Faculty at Morehouse College are expressing strong opposition to President Biden delivering the school’s commencement address due to his ongoing support for Israel during the conflict in Gaza. Some professors have stated that they refuse to be seen alongside the Democratic president on stage. The school’s 15-person faculty council recently penned a letter to Morehouse president David A. Thomas expressing their disappointment with Biden’s selection.
Morehouse Provost Kendrick Brown led an emergency call with college leaders to discuss the potential fallout from Biden’s commencement address. Brown emphasized that having a sitting president visit Morehouse offers a valuable opportunity in line with the school’s mission of engaging with social justice issues and moral concerns. Despite the concerns, Biden and his team are preparing for potential anti-Israel protests during his speech.
Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the issue of potential disruptions during Biden’s commencement address, emphasizing the president’s commitment to delivering an encouraging and uplifting message to the graduates and their families. Many colleges and universities across the country are facing challenges as their campuses are disrupted by anti-Israel protests. Some schools have responded with force, while others have allowed demonstrations to continue.
The University of Texas at Austin has used mounted police to squash demonstrations, while Columbia University initially called in the NYPD to clear an encampment but has since allowed it to reestablish. Morehouse College faculty’s strong opposition to Biden’s commencement address is part of a broader trend of campus unrest related to the conflict in Gaza. Biden is also scheduled to give a commencement address at West Point, where similar protests may occur.
The faculty at Morehouse College’s dissatisfaction with Biden’s selection highlights the ongoing division and unrest within universities and colleges across the country. The clash between free speech, social justice issues, and political affiliations continues to impact higher education institutions as they navigate how to address protests and demonstrations on campus. Morehouse’s response to the faculty’s concerns and the potential fallout from Biden’s commencement address underscores the challenges faced by educational institutions in engaging with controversial political issues.
