A graduation ceremony at Columbia University in New York City on Tuesday was filled with boos and chants of “Free Mahmoud” as students voiced their displeasure that Mahmoud Khalil remains in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) detention in Louisiana and was unable to join the rest of the class of 2025 in graduating.
The university’s acting president, Claire Shipman, was heckled as she introduced the ceremony. “I know that many of you feel some amount of frustration with me, and I know you feel it with the administration,” Shipman said, inciting another chorus of boos. “And I know that we have a strong, strong tradition of free speech at this university. And I am always open to feedback, which I am getting right now.”
