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New York University (NYU) has decided to withhold the diploma of Logan Rozos, a student who used his graduation speech to criticize the United States' support of what he described as "genocide" in Gaza. During the speech on Wednesday (May 14), Rozos condemned what he termed as "atrocities currently happening in Palestine," which elicited mixed reactions from the audience, including cheers and boos.
NYU accused Rozos of deviating from his planned remarks to express personal political views. The university expressed regret over Rozos' comments, stating that he abused the privilege of speaking at the graduation ceremony. John Beckman, an NYU spokesperson, announced that Rozos' diploma would be withheld while the university considers disciplinary action.
Rozos, who did not specifically mention Israel in his speech, highlighted that the alleged genocide was politically and militarily supported by the United States and funded by taxpayers. He emphasized the urgency of speaking out against it. Rozos is identified as an "actor, artist, and gay Black trans man" and studied cultural criticism and political economy at NYU.
The incident occurs amid heightened tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian advocacy on college campuses in the U.S., which has become a contentious issue. The Trump administration has been investigating several universities, including NYU, for alleged antisemitism since the Israel-Gaza conflict began in October 2023.