Columbia University President Claire Shipman was booed on Wednesday during her commencement address to the class of 2025.
Amid her remarks, graduates shouted in protest of the detainment of their classmate, Mahmoud Khalil, a green card holder and graduate student held in Louisiana after speaking out in support of Palestine amid the war in Gaza.
“I know that many of you feel some amount of frustration with me, and I know you feel it with the administration,” Shipman told the crowd amid the downpour of rain.
“And I know that we have a strong, strong tradition of free speech at this university. And I am always open to feedback, which I am getting right now,” Shipman said as jeers from the audience roared.
Earlier in the week, the school warned against outbursts, urging attendees to fall in line with the Rules of University Conduct, Anti-Discrimination and Discriminatory Standards and Discipline.
“We firmly believe that our international students have the same rights to freedom of speech as everyone else, and they should not be targeted by the government for exercising that right,” Shipman continued.
“Let me also say that I know many in our community today are mourning the absence of our graduate Mahmoud Khalil,” she added.
Despite the issued guidelines, groups shouted “free Mahmoud” while touting the Palestinian flag or keffiyehs in support of the former student’s release.
Khalil was taken by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on March 8 and transported thousands of miles away from his pregnant wife. She remained unaware of his whereabouts until Khalil’s attorneys could undertake legal recourse.
While detained, Khalil’s first child was born. He wrote a letter to his son from behind bars that was shared with the public.
“I sit here contemplating the immensity of your birth and wonder how many more firsts will be sacrificed to the whims of the US government, which denied me even the chance of furlough to attend your birth. How is it that the same politicians who preach “family values” are the ones tearing families apart?” he wrote in the correspondence.
On Wednesday, Khalil’s attorneys pleaded for him to be allowed to have physical contact with his wife and newborn son.
During her speech, Shipman spoke in depth about her overseas experience as a journalist in Moscow.
“Censorship was rampant. There were no open forums. You couldn’t say what you want, like people here have the right to,” Shipman said.
Khalil is among several students from various universities who are facing ongoing legal battles after speaking out against Israel’s role in the war in Gaza.
