University of Michigan Professor Defends Pro-Palestinian Commencement Remarks: "Michigan Is Not a Finishing School"
The remarks drew university backlash and a faculty letter with more than 600 signatories, while President Domenico Grasso apologized and called them hurtful and insensitive.
- On Saturday, University of Michigan Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson praised pro-Palestinian student activists during the commencement ceremony, urging graduates to honor their advocacy while singing the school's fight song.
- Peterson's comments emerged amid ongoing campus tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, with activists demanding divestment from companies with ties to Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
- University President Domenico Grasso issued a statement calling the remarks "hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community," asserting they did not represent the institution's position of neutrality.
- More than 1,000 faculty members, staff, and students signed an open letter demanding Grasso retract the apology, arguing the speech appropriately celebrated the university's history of student activism.
- Republican regent candidates Michael Schostak and Lena Epstein described Peterson's track record as "divisive," calling for accountability measures including leave without pay for deviating from his approved speech.
22 Articles
22 Articles
UM sorry for graduation speaker’s praise for pro-Hamas student protestors — 1,000 students, staff demand apology withdrawal
University of Michigan officials are apologizing for commencement remarks by faculty senate chair Derek Peterson on Saturday to honor of pro-Hamas protestors. “A today’s U-M spring commencement ceremony, our outgoing Faculty Senate Chair made remarks regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict that were hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community,” UM President Domenico Grasso wrote in a statement posted to the university’s website. “We…
University of Michigan apologizes after professor praises anti-Israel activists at commencement
Domenico Grasso, president of the University of Michigan, issued an apology on Saturday after a faculty leader praised pro-Palestinian student activists during a spring commencement speech.Derek Peterson, a history and African studies professor and outgoing faculty senate chair, urged graduates to remember the thousands of students who “have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of social justice over the course of centuries.” One of the examples …
Pro-Palestine speech by University of Michigan professor criticized by university leaders
ANN ARBOR, MI — University of Michigan history professor Derek Peterson said he feels “beat up” and dislikes being called an antisemite after he delivered a comment in support of pro-Palestine student protesters at the University of Michigan’s spring commencement on Saturday, May 2.
'Cowardly': University of Michigan Blasted After Apologizing for Commencement Speaker's Praise of Pro-Palestine Students
The University of Michigan is facing criticism after it apologized and said it was launching a review into a professor's commencement speech in which he praised the school's pro-Palestine student movement for highlighting the “injustice and inhumanity” of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
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