Video shows student sprinting across stage with baby to receive diploma as police chases
Video shows student sprinting across stage with baby to receive diploma as police chases
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Graduate evades police with infant son
The crowd cheered as a graduate student at University at Buffalo ran up the stage holding his infant son with police in tow.
A graduating student at the University at Buffalo in New York caused quite a stir as he sprinted across the stage with his baby son to accept his diploma, all while being chased by the police.
University at Buffalo's College of Arts and Sciences commencement ceremony livestream captured the graduate, Paul Al Arab, as he ran onto the stage holding his son with a police officer chasing after him.
Upon reaching the stage, Al Arab shook hands with those onstage and collected his diploma before pumping his fist in the air as the audience cheered him on. The police officer, meanwhile, could be seen walking behind him. Both the father and son were dressed in matching blue caps and gowns.
Why police chasing Al Arab?
Al Arab, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in criminology, according to WGRZ, also posted the clip of the incident on TikTok and shared what went down behind the scenes.
'I'm a full-time student, working two jobs—one of them overnight—and taking care of my son during the day until his mom gets home from work,' Al Arab said in the caption of the video, which played a snippet from Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" performance during the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in the background. 'And here I am, graduating, with my boy by my side. WE DID IT!'
Shortly after the video started gaining traction on social media, Al Arab added a note explaining what went down on the May 19 ceremony.
'Hey, I just want to explain what happened since a lot of people have been asking," Al Arab wrote. "During a prep class for commencement, I asked if I could walk with my baby and they told me it was fine. But when the time came, they tried to stop me and even called the police. They tried to escort me out, but honestly, the only reason they let me go was because of all of you who cheered and supported me — so thank you.'
University at Buffalo says Al Arab's son didn't earn 'enough credits to receive a diploma'
University at Buffalo, in a statement, addressed the incident, saying the "graduating senior ignored multiple directives from university event staff and UB Police, ran away from officers, and broke commencement rules by bringing an infant onto the commencement stage at Alumni Arena."
"While the situation created a light-hearted moment for the thousands in attendance who cheered on as the graduate took to the stage with the infant in his arms, the graduate's actions were a violation of commencement rules which clearly state that 'only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage'," the statement continued.
The university said the graduate, in an email, apologized for the disruption and that the university will not be penalizing him, adding that commencement rules are in place for the safety of all those in attendance.
"The graduate who broke the rules on Sunday will not be penalized and will still receive his degree from the university," the statement said.
"The infant, despite crossing the stage in a cap and gown, has not yet earned enough credits to receive a diploma," the college added. "We hope to see him back on stage in about 20 years so he can follow in his dad's footsteps."
Al Arab creates GoFundMe to support student parents
Following the incident, Al Arab is using his virality to spotlight student parents and help those struggling to complete their education while fulfilling their parental duties by setting up a GoFundMe with an aim to raise $10,000.
"Balancing two jobs, being a full-time dad, and pursuing my education has been challenging, but I promised my son that I would walk that stage with him," Al Arab said in the fundraiser's description. "It symbolized every sacrifice and sleepless night."
Al Arab maintained he was allowed to walk onto the stage with a baby.
"No one objected, so I didn't see a reason to double-check," Al Arab said. "I've seen others walk with their babies at graduations before, so it didn't seem like a big deal. That's why I was surprised when they tried to stop me and involved campus police."
Thanking his professors and audience members for their support, Al Arab said he did not mean to "cause a scene" and that he has "a lot of respect for UB and my professors."
"I was just a proud dad, keeping a promise," he said. "It's time we normalize seeing fathers in these moments. Being active, present, and proud shouldn't be surprising. It should be celebrated just like we do for moms."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Kendrick Lamar & SZA's ‘Luther' Breaks Record for Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart
After each individually holding the record, Kendrick Lamar and SZA combine forces to claim the longest-running No. 1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as their collaboration 'Luther' reaches an unprecedented 23rd week at the top. The crowning feat, on the list dated June 7, dates to the chart becoming the singular standard genre survey in October 1958. With its 23rd week at No. 1, 'Luther' breaks from the tie it set last week with Lamar's 'Not Like Us.' The Grammy-winning anthem scored 22 weeks in charge in 2024-25: 21 amid its summer 2024 run and its final frame this February following its much-discussed performance at the halftime show of Super Bowl LIX on Feb. 9. Before that, SZA's 'Kill Bill' was the titleholder thanks to its 21-week domination in 2022-23. More from Billboard All the Guest Stars on Kendrick Lamar & SZA's Grand National Tour So Far Watch SEVENTEEN Bring the 'Thunder' to 'Kelly Clarkson Show' Performance 'This Is What You Asked For': Watch Linkin Park Star in Ice-Shattering Stanley Cup Final Promo For the historic 'Luther' coronation on the multimetric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the single registered 16.5 million official United States streams in the tracking week of May 23-29, according to Luminate (down 1% from the previous week's total), 57.5 million in airplay audience (down 5%) and 1,500 in sales downloads (up 7%). As 'Luther' rewrites the record books and Lamar and SZA claim gold, silver and bronze, here are the songs with the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart since its 1958 consolidation into a singular genre survey: Most Weeks at No. 1 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: 23, 'Luther,' Kendrick Lamar & SZA, 2024-25 22, 'Not Like Us,' Kendrick Lamar, 2024-25 21, 'Kill Bill,' SZA, 2022-23 20, 'Old Town Road,' Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus, 2019 18, 'Industry Baby,' Lil Nas X & Jack Harlow, 2021-22 18, 'One Dance,' Drake feat. Wizkid & Kyla, 2016 16, 'Blurred Lines,' Robin Thicke feat. T.I. + Pharrell, 2013 15, 'Be Without You,' Mary J. Blige, 2006 The record secured, 'Luther' looks to a clear runway to keep extending its domination on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The track has ruled for the last 15 consecutive weeks — its last time outside the top spot was when 'Not Like Us' rebounded after the Super Bowl — and has fended off the same No. 2 challenger, Drake's 'Nokia,' for the last 10 frames. Given the declining activity in all songs in the top 10 — the sole track gaining in activity this week 'Not Like Us,' at No. 6 — the most plausible scenario for 'Luther' surrendering the No. 1 rank soon is the strong arrival of a superstar's new single. Elsewhere, 'Luther' rolls to a 23rd week at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs, nearing the 26-week record for 'Not Like Us.' On the Billboard Hot 100, 'Luther' repeats at No. 5 after having ruled the ranking for 13 weeks in March-May, the longest for any song in Lamar or SZA's catalog. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
How much are tickets to see Kendrick Lamar and SZA in Chicago?
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. First-rate Hip-Hop is headed to the Second City. On Friday, June 6, Kendrick Lamar and SZA are bringing their 'Grand National Tour' to Chicago's Soldier Field for a night of rap, R&B, duets and more. This show is the latest of the ongoing, co-headlining run that has taken the pair all over the country. At past shows, they've performed 50+ songs between the two of them. Advertisement That includes Kendrick's most well-known tracks — 'Not Like Us,' 'King Kunta,' 'Swimming Pools (Drank),' 'm.A.A.d city' and 'HUMBLE' to name just a few — and SZA's iconic chart-topping bops like 'Kill Bill,' 'Kiss Me More,' 'Good Days,' 'Nobody Gets Me' and 'All The Stars.' '…some of the best, most special moments were when Lamar and SZA were together,' The Post reported in a review of the duo's recent show at MetLife Stadium. 'After their first duet on '30 for 30″ to introduce SZA, there was an act with the two of them — including 'Doves in the Wind,' 'All the Stars' and 'Love' — that showed just why they are the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, the Rick James and Teena Marie of their generation.' If this sounds like the Hip-Hop/R&B crossover show of your dreams, tickets are available for the one-off in Chi City. Based on our findings, the lowest price we could find on tickets was $244 including fees on Vivid Seats at the time of publication. Advertisement Floor seats start at $416 including fees. Need a bit more information before checking out? We've got your back, Kenfolk and Ctrl Collective. Our team has everything you need to know and more about Kendrick Lamar and SZA's 'Grand National Tour' Soldier Field show below. Advertisement All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. Kendrick Lamar SoFi Stadium tickets A breakdown of all the best prices on tickets to see Kendrick Lamar at Inglewood, CA's SoFi Stadium on May 8-9 can be found here: Soldier Field sections Ticket prices start at 400 level $244 (fees included) 300 level $271 (fees included) 200 level $362 (fees included) 100 level $383 (fees included) Floor level $416 (fees included) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are in US dollars, subject to fluctuation and, if it isn't noted, will include additional fees at checkout.) Advertisement Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. Kendrick Lamar tour schedule 2025 A complete calendar including all upcoming show dates, venues and links to buy tickets can be found below. Kendrick Lamar and SZA set list Lamar and SZA launched their 'Grand National Tour' on April 19 at Minneapolis, MN's US Bank Stadium. According to Set List FM, here's everything — and we mean everything — the duo performed that evening. Act I: Kendrick Lamar 01.) 'wacced out murals' 02.) 'squabble up' 03.) 'King Kunta' 04.) 'ELEMENT.' 05.) 'tv off' Act II: SZA Advertisement 06.) '30 for 30' (with Kendrick; live debut) 07.) 'Love Galore' 08.) 'Broken Clocks' 09.) 'The Weekend' Act III: Kendrick Lamar 10.) 'euphoria' 11.) 'hey now' 12.) 'reincarnated' 13.) 'HUMBLE.' 14.) 'Backseat Freestyle' 15.) 'family ties' (Baby Keem cover) (with a new verse) 16.) 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' (a cappella) 17.) 'm.A.A.d city' 18.) 'Alright' 19.) 'man at the garden' Act IV: SZA 20.) 'Scorsese Baby Daddy' 21.) 'F2F' 22.) 'Garden (Say It Like Dat)' 23.) 'Kitchen' 24.) 'Blind' 25.) 'Forgiveless' 26.) 'Low' Act V: Kendrick Lamar & SZA 27.) 'Doves in the Wind' 28.) 'All the Stars' 29.) 'LOVE.' Act VI: Kendrick Lamar Advertisement 30.) 'dodger blue' 31.) 'peekaboo' 32.) 'Like That' (Future & Metro Boomin cover) 33.) 'DNA.' 34.) 'GOOD CREDIT' (Playboi Carti cover) 35.) 'Count Me Out' (contains elements of 'B—-, Don't Kill My Vibe') 36.) 'Money Trees' 37.) 'Poetic Justice' Act VII: SZA 38.) 'Diamond Boy (DTM)' 39.) 'Shirt' 40.) 'Kill Bill' 41.) 'Snooze' 42.) 'Crybaby' 43.) 'Saturn' 44.) 'Good Days' 45.) 'Rich Baby Daddy' (Drake cover) 46.) 'BMF' 47.) 'Kiss Me More' (Doja Cat cover) Act VIII: Kendrick Lamar 48.) (Unknown) (unreleased; may be titled 'bodies', from the GNX teaser) 49.) 'tv off' (part II) 50.) 'Not Like Us' Act IX: Kendrick Lamar & SZA Advertisement 51.) 'luther' 52.) 'gloria' Kendrick Lamar new music On Nov. 22, 2024, Lamar shocked the world with his previously-unannounced sixth studio album 'GNX.' Made up of 12 tracks, the talented lyricist delivers his trademark punchy rhymes — that are almost impossible to get out of your head in the best way — over sparse drumbeats and samples. Personally, our favorite tracks here are the impressively minimalist rapper's delight 'wacced out murals' (which ended up opening his halftime show), Latin-infused 'reincarnated' and lively party-starter 'tv off' feat. lefty gunplay. Advertisement Stick around until the end, too. Kendrick teams up with SZA for the evocative, sensitive duet 'gloria.' We can't wait to hear this one live IRL (especially now that we know it's literally the show's encore). Want to check the album out for yourself? Click here to listen to 'GNX.' SZA new music SZA's 23-song, 2022 album 'SOS' has proven to be a hit with critics and fans in the nearly three years since its release. Rolling Stone said the record 'delivers sharp barbs and juicy revelations' in a glowing four-star review. 'SZA's long, ambitious, luxurious new album solidifies her position as a generational talent,' Pitchfork raved. They summed up that sentiment calling her 'otherworldly, but you just might know someone a little like her, too.' If you want to brush up on the record before seeing her live, you can stream 'SOS' here. Hip-Hop icons on tour in 2025 Although it will be difficult to top Kendrick and SZA's jaunt in terms of sheer star power, scope and scale, we're just as excited to catch a number of big names live these next few months. Here are just five iconic acts we can't wait to see in the near future. • Tyler, The Creator • Wu-Tang Clan • NBA Youngboy • Lil Wayne • Wiz Khalifa Who else is on the road? Take a look at our list of all the biggest artists on tour in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
DJ Akademiks Clowns Ab-Soul For Being Legally Blind In Response To Diss Track
Akademiks has responded to Ab-Soul threatening to 'slap' him, poking fun at the rapper for being legally blind. On Tuesday (May 27), Ab-Soul reignited the lyrical flames on Instagram, jumping into the ongoing rap war between Joey Bada$$ and a host of West Coast emcees with a scathing new track. Known for his introspective bars and fierce loyalty to his peers, the Carson, Calif. rapper used the moment to stand tall for his Black Hippy collaborator Kendrick Lamar—and to issue a personal threat to media personality DJ Akademiks. 'Imma slap Akademiks when I see him,' Ab-Soul raps on the fiery record, which targets Joey Bada$$ and serves as a passionate defense of the West Coast's lyrical legacy. The bar didn't go unnoticed. Akademiks, never one to back down from controversy, swiftly clapped back on social media with a provocative tweet that many perceived as both dismissive and disrespectful. 'Sounds amazing. Just remind that ni**a they won't throw a funeral for him like Nipsey. keep rapping lil ni**a we ain't see u slap nothing yet,' he wrote, comparing Ab-Soul's cultural impact to that of the late Nipsey Hussle. But he didn't stop there. In a subsequent livestream, Akademiks took his criticism further by mocking Ab-Soul's well-documented visual impairment. 'Usually when ni**as attack me they go fat jokes first. I'm like he don't even go fat jokes. This a new angle,' he said. 'Come to find out this bi**h a** ni**a can't even see. He don't know what I look like. In his f**king brain, I'm a stick figure.' Ab-Soul, who has openly spoken about being legally blind due to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, has never shied away from weaving his condition into his music, using it as a lens for both vulnerability and strength. Akademiks' comments, however, sparked a mix of backlash and laughter online, with some fans and artists calling his statements unnecessarily cruel, while others found humor in the live-streamer's remarks. The track that further fuels the feud between Ab-Soul and Akademiks is part of a larger rap war sparked by Joey Bada$$, who recently launched lyrical attacks on several California-based artists including Ray Vaughn, Daylyt, AzChike, Reason, and others. The battle has fueled a new wave of regional tension and pride, with West Coast voices like Ab-Soul stepping up to defend their turf—bar for bar. Listen to Ab-Soul's new song below. More from Pusha T Addresses Drake's UMG Lawsuit Over Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" Joey Bada$$ And Serayah Can "Bearly Wait" For Newborn In Baby Shower Pics Ab-Soul Adds To Joey Bada$$ Vs. West Coast Feud On Untitled Track
