Gerrard Kaonga
Columbia University students made it clear how they feel about their acting president as they barely let her get a word in during a speech at the Ivy League school's graduation ceremony.
Acting president Claire Shipman was attempting to give a graduation speech but the crowd of students really didn’t want to hear any of it, with the viral video showing students booing loudly as soon as she is introduced to the stage.
The boos were so loud and persistent that they stopped the president from even beginning her speech, with her simply saying ‘thank you’ before being drowned out by the noise.
When she did manage to get a word in, Shipman acknowledged the annoyance from students, which has been sparked by the university caving to the demands of the Donald Trump administration.
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Back in March, the administration demanded the university make a series of changes or risk losing $400m in federal funding the government had pulled that month.
This was due to the accusations that the school tolerated antisemitism on campus.
The university released a memo outlining its agreement with Trump’s administration and explained the changes that would come into effect.
The university agreed to banning face masks on campus, empowering security officers to remove or arrest individuals, and taking control of the department that offers courses on the Middle East from its faculty.
This comes after repeated protests held on campus of people against the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine.
During her speech, Shipman said: “Good morning class of 2025 I know that many of you feel some amount of frustration with me and I know you feel it with the administration.
“I know we have a strong tradition of free speech at this university.
“I am always open to feedback which I am getting right now.”
Later on through her speech she called on the students to ‘shape these interesting times’ going forward but was eventually drowned out by chants of ‘Free Mahmoud’.
This is in reference to Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, who was detained by US immigration officials in March due to his role in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
He is a permanent legal US resident and has not been charged with a crime.
As the video has circulated on social media, many have praised the students at the ceremony for their actions as well as commending other universities that were able to resist the pressure put on them by the Trump administration.