Megha Vemuri, the Indian-American president of MIT's Class of 2025, has found herself at the center of a controversy after being banned from her graduation ceremony due to a pro-Palestine speech she delivered at the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 29, 2025. The university cited a violation of commencement protocols as the reason for its decision, sparking a heated debate about free speech, academic freedom, and the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on college campuses.
Vemuri's speech, delivered while wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional scarf symbolizing solidarity with Palestinians, was critical of MIT's ties to the Israeli military. She accused the university of being "complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people" and stated, "We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth, and it's a shame that MIT is a part of it." She also praised students who supported Palestinian rights, stating that the student body voted to cut ties with the Israeli military and called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
MIT officials stated that Vemuri's speech was not the one she had submitted for approval and that her actions constituted a disruption of an important university ceremony. In an email to Vemuri, MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles stated, "You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organizers... your decision to lead a protest from the stage, disrupting an important institute ceremony, was a violation of MIT's time, place and manner rules for campus expression." Although banned from the ceremony, Vemuri will still receive her degree.
The university's decision has been met with mixed reactions. Supporters of Vemuri have criticized MIT for what they see as censorship of political speech. Conversely, others have argued that the graduation ceremony was not the appropriate venue for such a speech and that Vemuri violated university protocols. Some Jewish students reportedly walked out in protest during the speech, with one anonymous student expressing disappointment and stating that many Jewish families left feeling unsettled by the division that had surfaced.
The incident has also ignited a social media storm, with many criticizing Vemuri and others defending her right to express her views. Some of the backlash has been harsh, with one Israeli CEO posting a strongly worded message condemning Vemuri's stance and mocking her accent. Vemuri has since deactivated her LinkedIn profile.
Vemuri's pro-Palestine activism is not new. She is affiliated with Written Revolution, a student group at MIT that promotes anti-imperialist and revolutionary thought. During her speech, she referenced student-led efforts urging the university to sever connections with the Israeli military. She has been involved in activism and advocacy throughout her time at MIT, pushing for deeper conversations around justice, identity, and global responsibility.
MIT's response to Vemuri's speech reflects the increasing tensions on college campuses related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pro-Palestine protests have intensified in recent months, with students demanding that universities divest from companies and programs linked to Israel. This incident raises questions about freedom of speech and the delicate balance universities must strike amidst political activism.
