NYU may have ignored its own protocols to allow anti-Israel grad speech: insider
'As I search my my heart . . . the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time and to a group this large is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine,' student Logan Rozos said Wednesday in the opening of his three-minute speech laced with a one-sided narrative about the Israel-Gaza war.
'I want to say that I condemn this genocide and condemn the complicity in this genocide,' he said claiming the US was 'militarily and politically' complicit, as faculty on the dais were seen applauding and nodding emphatically.
An NYU insider who's been at the school decades told The Post Rozos should have never been allowed to finish his speech.
Students have to 'submit a copy of the speech and agree to read that speech and none other,' the insider said.
'There's definitely a breakdown in protocol. When someone goes off script, the mic is supposed to be cut. These events are produced to the syllable because they need to be.
'It's supposed to be zero surprises – 100 percent by design.'
The insider added that 'the real question is if there were faculty on the inside who put him up to this.'
'My mind, seeing all the faculty on the stage clapping, caused me to question whether they were in some way involved or not,' said the source, noting their robust record of anti-Israel sentiment according to the Canary Mission, which tracks antisemitism.
Fellow grads were aghast NYU allowed Rozos to finish the 'inflammatory' and 'incredibly narcissistic' diatribe at the Beacon Theatre ceremony.
'They absolutely should have cut it off and not applauded him,' fumed Sabrina Maslavi, a Gallatin grad who settled a federal antimsemitism lawsuit with NYU last year.
Maslavi told the Post that the 'inappropriate' speech 'definitely ruined my graduation for me and my family,' estimating about half of faculty on the dais openly supported the screed. 'They applauded him and let him finish. And after he sat down, the faculty still applauded him.'
She claimed she was shunned when she didn't follow fellow grads in giving him a standing ovation.
'I got the death stare.'
Another grad groused about the 'horrible' and 'embarrassing' spectacle for the institution.
'It took any prestige they had and squashed it,' the grad said, adding that Rozos 'should have been pulled off the stage.'
Gallatin dean Victoria Rosner took the stage directly after Rozos, ignoring the divisive rant.
Hours after the speech, an NYU spokesperson announced it would be withholding Rozos's diploma while it 'pursues disciplinary actions.'
The school said Rozos 'abused' his 'privilege,' 'denounc[ing]' Rozos's speech and accusing him of 'misus[ing] his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views.'
The rep did not address any breach in protocol but said the student 'lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules.'
The 24-year-old Rozos, who wrote in a student online platform that he was raised in Washington Heights and the Bronx, was honored in 2020 for his 'groundbreaking' role in the series 'David Makes Men' on the Oprah Winfrey Network. 'At the time, Rozos was one of very few trans men on television,' read the 2024 Glaad writeup.
The Post reached out to Rozos multiple times for comment.
Students think that the punishment will only boost Rozos's notoriety, transforming him into a hero.
'There's nothing that NYU could do to make him regret what he said,' said a Jewish male grad who was appalled at the ceremony. 'I wouldn't be surprised if Logan turns into a victim from this— a victim of Israel and the Jewish people. People are going to feel bad for him.'
Jeff Rabhan, father of a Gallatin grad, ripped NYU, where he was chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music for 11 years.
'You can't tell me they didn't discuss the possibility of this happening,' he said. 'There was plenty of opportunity to right the wrong,' seethed the dad about not cutting off the student. 'It's offensive for families who spend $250,000' for the NYU degree.
Watchdog groups condemned the message sent by NYU's slap in the wrist.
'We fail to see how New York University has made any positive changes to deter – or impose consequences on – Jew-hatred when this is the speech given at commencement to rounding applause but no condemnation,' said Michelle Ahdoot of End Jewish Hatred, which first published the graduation video.
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