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yesterday

MIT Bars Class President from Graduation Ceremony Over Pro-Palestinian Speech

University officials say her unsanctioned remarks violated institute guidelines, prompting disciplinary action at the undergraduate commencement ceremony.

Megha Vemuri, student class president at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, denounces the school's ties to Israel during her 2025 commencement address, May 29, 2025, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. (Screenshot via X)
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Megha Vemuri
Megha Vemuri began her Bachelor’s degree at MIT and was also a part of class council.

Overview

  • Megha Vemuri used her Class of 2025 commencement address to denounce MIT’s research ties with the Israeli military, wearing a red keffiyeh and urging graduates to support a free Palestine.
  • Spokesperson Kimberly Allen and Chancellor Melissa Nobles upheld the ban after Vemuri deviated from the approved script and led a protest from the stage, citing breaches of time, place and manner rules.
  • Audience response was deeply divided as some graduates cheered and waved Palestinian flags while several Jewish students and families walked out in protest.
  • Vemuri has faced intense social media backlash, including calls to derail her career, alongside messages of support praising her bold activism.
  • The incident highlights rising campus tensions over the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing challenge for universities in balancing free speech with institutional order.