Xavier University of Louisiana has canceled Saturday’s planned commencement address by the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, after news of her appearance sparked outrage among some students.
Students were outraged over Thomas-Greenfield’s invitation to speak because of their opposition to the past positions by the US on the war in Gaza.
Before presenting a March resolution to the UN’s security council that called for an “immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza”, the US vetoed three other ceasefire resolutions proposed by other countries.
In explaining one veto, Thomas-Greenfield said the US could not support ceasefire resolutions that do not mention Israel’s right to self-defense; in explaining another, she said the US could not support a ceasefire until Hamas freed hostages it took during its 7 October attack on Israel.
The university’s president, Reynold Verret, announced the decision in an email to faculty, staff and students.
“Everyone’s goal is to have a commencement ceremony that appropriately honors the graduates and their achievements,” Verret wrote. “The vast majority of students want to be able to enjoy a commencement ceremony free of disruptions. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with the commencement speaker as originally planned.”
Verret called the cancellation a “regrettable conclusion” and said the decision was made in partnership with the ambassador.
Thomas-Greenfield did not comment on the decision. She faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont, where she was set to deliver the commencement address on 19 May. Pro-Palestinian student protesters called for the school to cancel her speech, citing the vetoed ceasefire resolutions.
The school announced on Friday that she would not be speaking.
Chase Patterson, the president of the Xavier Student Government Association, who had written a letter to administrators calling on them to reconsider their commencement choice, applauded Verret’s decision to listen to their concerns.
“We are grateful that President Verret actually listened to our call,” Patterson told the Times-Picayune/the New Orleans Advocate. “This does make me optimistic that students will continue to support us and we will continue to support them and that the administration will continue to listen to us.”
The graduation ceremony is planned for 1pm on Saturday at the university’s Convocation Center. Verret did not say whether there would be a new speaker to fill Thomas-Greenfield’s spot.