Rutgers University has rescinded its invitation to Rami Elghandour, the CEO of biotechnology company Arcellx and a university alumnus, as the commencement speaker for the School of Engineering's convocation ceremony. The decision follows backlash over Elghandour's anti-Israel social media posts, which criticized Israel's actions in Gaza.
Key Takeaways
Rutgers University rescinded its invitation to Rami Elghandour as graduation speaker due to his anti-Israel social media posts. Elghandour, CEO of Arcellx and a Rutgers alum, had criticized Israel's actions in Gaza. The university cited student concerns about the posts.
- Rutgers withdraws invitation to commencement speaker over controversial remarks
- Speaker accused Israel of genocide and called for weapons embargo in social media posts
- University aims to avoid divisive topics during celebratory event
- Council on American-Islamic Relations criticizes decision as silencing pro-Palestinian voices
According to CBS News, Rutgers cited concerns from some graduating students who felt uncomfortable with Elghandour's comments. In an April 20 post, Elghandour accused Israel of committing genocide and called for a weapons embargo and diplomatic isolation. The university stated that the decision was made to keep the focus on the engineering students and ensure that no graduate feels forced to choose between their personal convictions and attending the ceremony.
Elghandour expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that he would not waver on his principles and commitment to human rights. He plans to record a video of the speech he had prepared and post it online. The The Guardian reported that Elghandour found it puzzling that the university was canceling him for the same humanitarian views they had previously championed.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations New Jersey (CAIR-NJ) criticized the university's decision, arguing that Elghandour's speech was not hateful or bigoted but rather a call for an end to genocide and accountability. CAIR-NJ's Public Affairs Director Naureen Akhter expressed disappointment, especially in light of Rutgers' recent welcoming of IDF soldiers on campus.
The decision comes amid a broader context of controversies surrounding pro-Palestinian speech at graduation ceremonies across the United States. Other universities, such as New York University and the City University of New York's Law School, have also faced similar issues, with some banning live speeches or pre-recording them to avoid potential backlash.
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