2025-06-01T15:49:00Z

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Megha Vemuri, an Indian-American student at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), found herself at the center of controversy after being banned from attending her own graduation ceremony on Friday. This decision came in the wake of a pro-Palestinian speech she delivered during the university's commencement event on May 29. Initially designated as the marshal of the graduation ceremony, her efforts to advocate for Palestinian rights led to MIT's administration barring both her and her family from participating in the event.

Vemuri, who served as the elected class president at MIT and pursued a double major in computation and cognition as well as linguistics, took to the stage at the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony held in Cambridge. During her speech, which had not received prior approval from university officials, she vehemently criticized MIT’s collaborations with Israeli institutions. She accused the university of complicity in what she termed “genocide” against the Palestinian people.

Following her speech, Vemuri was notified by University Chancellor Melissa Nobles that she was no longer permitted to partake in the graduation ceremony. The university announced that she would instead receive her diploma via mail. In an official statement, MIT expressed its commitment to supporting free expression but upheld its decision by asserting that Vemuri had “deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organizers” and had instigated a protest from the podium.

In the aftermath of her exclusion from the graduation festivities, Vemuri commented that she was not particularly disappointed about missing the ceremony. “I see no need for me to walk across the stage of an institution that is complicit in this genocide,” she stated, reflecting her strong feelings about the matter. However, she did express significant concern regarding how the university handled the situation, stating that officials “massively overstepped their roles to punish me without merit or due process.”

Providing context to MIT’s connections with Israel, data from the United States Department of Education revealed that between 2020 and 2024, MIT received a substantial total of $2.8 million in grants, gifts, and contracts from Israeli entities. This funding has drawn scrutiny, especially in light of the recent escalation of violence in the region, as reported by several media outlets, including The Boston Globe and The New York Times.

Who exactly is Megha Vemuri? Born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, she graduated from Alpharetta High School in 2021 before enrolling at MIT. Her academic pursuits at MIT not only encompassed her dual major but also included active participation in student organizations. Vemuri was a member of the Written Revolution, a group dedicated to promoting “revolutionary thought” through various forms of writing and art, which they view as powerful instruments for social change.

Before her time at MIT, Vemuri gained valuable experience as an intern at the Neuroscience Institute at the University of Cape Town in South Africa and engaged in various youth leadership programs focused on science outreach.

The speech Vemuri delivered at the OneMIT event quickly gained traction on social media, garnering both support and criticism. In light of the online backlash, she chose to delete her LinkedIn profile. In her speech, which she delivered while wearing a red keffiyeh — a traditional scarf often associated with solidarity with Palestine — Vemuri was one of nine students to speak at the commencement ceremony. She urged her classmates to recognize their collective efforts in advocating for a free Palestine, stating, “You showed the world that MIT wants a free Palestine,” and emphasized that the MIT community would never condone genocide.

Following Vemuri's speech, MIT President Sally Kornbluth addressed the crowd but faced interruptions as attendees began chanting in support of Vemuri’s sentiments. Kornbluth responded with caution, saying, “At MIT, we believe in freedom of expression. But today is about the graduates,” attempting to redirect the focus back to the event's purpose.

This incident is not an isolated one. The 2023-24 academic year has seen a notable increase in pro-Palestinian protests across various college campuses, with students engaging in demonstrations, sit-ins, and other forms of activism. Graduation ceremonies have increasingly served as platforms for political expression, with many students seizing the opportunity to voice their beliefs. Generally, participants in such protests have not faced disciplinary actions, which raises questions about the consistency of responses from university administrations.

The response to Vemuri’s speech also reached political arenas, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a prominent ally of former President Donald Trump, labeling her remarks as “ignorant,” “hateful,” and “morally bankrupt.” He further urged parents to steer their children away from MIT and Ivy League institutions. This political backlash illustrates the polarized climate surrounding discussions on college campuses regarding Israel and Palestine.