Xavier University's decision to have U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield deliver the undergraduate commencement address has stirred controversy among students. Scheduled to speak at 1 p.m. Saturday to graduates of Xavier's College of Arts and Sciences, Thomas-Greenfield's past positions on the war in Gaza have led to opposition from some students.
The announcement of Thomas-Greenfield as the commencement speaker was met with disapproval, prompting students to call for the cancellation of her speech. An online petition was created, urging the university to reconsider its choice of speaker and review the process of selecting future commencement speakers.
Students expressed concern over Thomas-Greenfield's voting record on ceasefire resolutions related to the conflict in Gaza. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. had vetoed several ceasefire resolutions before presenting a resolution in March calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The students highlighted the impact of the conflict on Palestinian civilians, with tens of thousands reported killed since October.
Xavier administrators have not yet indicated whether they will rescind Thomas-Greenfield's invitation. The U.N. Ambassador, who has served under President Joe Biden since 2021, has a distinguished career in public service, including roles as the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and various postings around the world.
Thomas-Greenfield had faced a similar situation at the University of Vermont, where her commencement address was canceled following protests from pro-Palestinian student groups. The Xavier Muslim Student Association President created a petition calling for a new commencement speaker and advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Despite meeting with university administrators, students remain hopeful that the university will reconsider its choice of speaker to ensure a celebratory conclusion to their time at Xavier. The decision on whether to keep or cancel the speech lies with Xavier President Reynold Verret, who was reportedly out of the country on university business.
