Commencement speakers spark campus fights

What's happened

Since April and into May 2026, multiple US universities have faced commencement and campus controversies over invited speakers and events related to Israel, free speech and protest. NYU is keeping Jonathan Haidt as its Yankee Stadium commencement speaker despite student government opposition; Rutgers has rescinded an invitation to alumnus Rami Elghandour; Georgetown Law replaced Morton Schapiro after student objections; and campus groups are clashing over guest appearances and platforming.

What's behind the headline?

What is happening

• Multiple universities are facing public fights over commencement and campus speakers tied to views on Israel, antisemitism, DEI and free speech.
• Administrations are defending selections or reversing invitations under pressure from students, alumni and politicians.

Who is driving the conflict

• Student governments and activist groups are publicly rejecting speakers they see as hostile to campus values.
• Alumni, donors and external figures are pushing back, accusing student leaders of censorship or antisemitism.
• University administrators are caught between protecting free speech and managing reputational, financial and legal risks.

Why this will continue

• The issue is rooted in ongoing national contention about the Gaza war, campus protests and federal scrutiny; universities will keep receiving organized pressure from both pro‑Palestine activists and pro‑Israel donors.
• Commencement season is a focal calendar moment: ceremonies are high visibility and will keep producing disputes.

Likely short‑term outcomes

• Universities will keep making case‑by‑case decisions: some will proceed with controversial speakers (NYU), others will withdraw invitations (Rutgers, Georgetown Law replacement).
• Administrations will increase screening and stakeholder consultation for future speakers to avoid crises.

What this means for campuses and students

• Student governments will remain powerful platforms for political expression but will face intensified scrutiny and criticism when their statements intersect with national politics.
• Free‑speech debates will keep translating into operational and legal challenges for universities, including donor backlash and potential federal attention.

How we got here

College commencements and campus talks have become flashpoints since the Gaza war and post‑Oct. 7 protests. Administrations are balancing donor and federal pressure with student dissent; student governments and alumni are contesting speaker selections over views on Israel, free speech, DEI and campus protest tactics.

Our analysis

The New York Times (Jeremy W. Peters) has reported that NYU is proceeding with Jonathan Haidt as its commencement speaker despite a May 5 open letter from NYU Student Government leaders calling his selection “deeply unsettling.” The Independent and the New York Post document the student objections, citing allegations that Haidt has made contentious remarks on transgender identity and DEI; Haidt has been described by NYU as “one of the most consequential scholars of the 21st century.” The New Arab and Times of Israel coverage show similar tensions elsewhere: Rutgers has rescinded engineering alumnus Rami Elghandour’s May 15 convocation invite after students raised concerns about his social media criticism of Israel; Georgetown Law announced Morton Schapiro as a May 17 speaker but then replaced him after students objected to his past commentary — as reported by The Times of Israel. Campus flashpoints beyond commencements are reflected in multiple New York Post and Times of Israel pieces: UCLA’s student government drew fire after condemning an on‑campus event with former hostage Omer Shem Tov, prompting a public rebuke from UC regent Jay Sures and coverage of broader free‑speech and antisemitism disputes at the University of California. The New Post articles provide detailed examples and quotes from opponents and university spokespeople; the Times of Israel supplies timelines and context for speaker withdrawals and replacements. Taken together, these sources show a pattern: student bodies are challenging speaker selections on political grounds, universities are responding unevenly, and alumni/donor reactions are driving some reversals. Direct quotes include the NYU student government calling Haidt’s selection “deeply unsettling” (The Independent) and NYU’s spokesman calling Haidt “one of the most consequential scholars of the 21st century” (New York Post). Rutgers said it rescinded Elghandour’s invitation because “some graduating students would not attend their graduation ceremon

Go deeper

• Will NYU proceed with Haidt’s speech at Yankee Stadium on Thursday?
• How will universities change speaker vetting for future commencements?
• Will donor or federal pressure produce formal policy changes at public universities?

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