Harvard University’s 374th Commencement on Thursday was anything but typical, despite the familiar sights of ceremonial regalia, bagpipes, and cap tosses. The event coincided with a pivotal courtroom decision concerning the university’s ability to enroll international students, casting a political shadow over the celebration. During keynote speaker Dr. Abraham Verghese’s address, news broke that a federal judge had temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) attempt to revoke Harvard’s certification to admit international students. The announcement was met with spontaneous applause across Tercentenary Theatre, signaling collective relief among the 30,000 attendees.
The legal battle erupted just days earlier, after the DHS cited concerns over alleged campus antisemitism and foreign influence. In response, Harvard swiftly filed a lawsuit, with President Alan M. Garber emerging as a central figure in the university’s defense. Once criticized for his handling of student activism, Garber received two standing ovations, one upon taking the stage and another when he reaffirmed Harvard’s commitment to welcoming students from around the world.
Though Garber refrained from directly naming former President Donald Trump or referencing the ongoing lawsuits, his remarks centered on intellectual integrity and warned against ideological rigidity. His message struck a chord with many in the audience, subtly reinforcing Harvard’s resistance to political pressure while emphasizing academic values.
Harvard University Unity on Display as Harvard Rallies Behind International Students
While Harvard’s leadership maintained a measured tone, the student body and faculty demonstrated quiet but resolute unity. More than 800 graduates wore white flowers on their gowns in a show of solidarity with international peers whose futures had been thrown into uncertainty. Some adorned keffiyehs or carried signs, reflecting broader concerns over academic freedom and international rights.
Faculty and deans also joined the silent protest. Many affixed stickers with the phrase “without our international students, Harvard is not Harvard,” referencing the university’s legal filing. Outgoing Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana prominently displayed the message on his phone, and Graduate School of Education Dean Bridget T. Long wore hers on her sleeve. The gestures marked a departure from last year’s Commencement, which saw over a thousand walkouts due to disciplinary actions against pro-Palestine students.
While mass demonstrations were absent, moments of protest surfaced. Banners critical of Harvard’s stance on Gaza were briefly displayed on campus buildings but were swiftly removed by security. Outside the university gates, demonstrators urged Harvard to divest from Israeli military actions and protect student speech, while a digital truck sponsored by a conservative group circled nearby, displaying names of pro-Palestine activists in a campaign widely condemned by civil rights advocates.
Verghese’s Address Echoes Harvard’s Stand for Academic Freedom
Keynote speaker Dr. Abraham Verghese delivered a poignant address, drawing from his experience as a refugee who fled authoritarian repression in Ethiopia. He praised Harvard University leadership, particularly President Garber, for standing firm in the face of federal overreach. Verghese framed the DHS’s actions as part of a broader pattern of attacks on institutions where “truth and reason prevail.”
Verghese’s speech culminated in a moving anecdote from his early medical career, a letter from a young AIDS patient expressing gratitude for a life well-lived, which he likened to paradise. “If anyone ever asks you if I went to heaven, tell them this- I just came from there,” the patient had written.
Following his address, the ceremony concluded with the traditional gavel strikes by Middlesex County Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian, officially adjourning the event. Despite legal and political pressures, Harvard’s Commencement ended on a note of unity, underscoring the institution’s resolve to defend its students and uphold its values in an increasingly contentious national climate.
