Overview
- Rutgers, which rescinded the May 15 School of Engineering convocation invitation Wednesday, said some graduates would skip the ceremony because of Rami Elghandour’s social media posts.
- A university representative told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that an April 20 post alleging Israelis train dogs to sexually assault prisoners drove concerns.
- Elghandour, the CEO of biotech firm Arcellx and a Rutgers alumnus, has accused Israel of war crimes online, shared footage from Gaza and the West Bank, and helped produce a film about Hind Rajab.
- He did not respond to AP’s request for comment, and JTA reported he posted a statement denouncing Rutgers for canceling his talk.
- The move tracks a wider pattern this spring, following Michigan’s commencement uproar after a speech praising pro-Palestinian students drew donor and political threats to cut funding.