MIT bans class of 2025 president from commencement after pro-Palestinian speech, drawing protests
The disruption came amid controversy in the MIT community over Nobles' decision to bar from the event a student leader who had given a pro-Palestinian speech at a different commencement ceremony a day earlier.
Megha Vemuri, the president of MIT's undergraduate student association, on Thursday veered from her prepared marks and from the stage
'Excuse me, I respect that you have a message to send but this is not the time or place,' Nobles said. 'Today is about our graduates and their families. Please respect them and allow me to continue.'
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Supportive applause swelled, and soon after the jeering dissipated.
She had been scheduled to be marshal for Friday's commencement ceremony, but Nobles sent an email Friday morning saying that she could not attend the event and that she and her family were banned from campus for most of the day.
'Participation in Commencement activities is a privilege,' Nobles wrote in the email, which was obtained by the Globe. 'You deliberately and repeatedly misled Commencement organizers. While we acknowledge your right to free expression, 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.'
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Vemuri, in an emailed response disputed her speech amounted to 'a protest from the stage' and that her campus ban is 'an overreach.'
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Spencer Buell can be reached at
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