NYU Withholds Graduate’s Diploma After Pro-Palestine Gaza Speech at Commencement
Rozos, who was selected by his peers to give the graduation address, explained that he felt a moral and political obligation to speak out about the atrocities in Palestine.
New York University (NYU) is withholding the diploma of Logan Rozos, a graduating senior from the Gallatin School, after he used his commencement speech to condemn what he described as a “genocide” in Gaza, politically and militarily supported by the United States.
During his speech, Rozos criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and the U.S. government’s complicity, stating the violence was funded by American tax dollars and has been broadcast live, which drew cheers from parts of the audience and applause from some faculty members.
“I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide.”
NYU student Logan Rozos denounced Israel’s genocide in Gaza during his graduation speech to roaring applause. In retaliation, NYU has withheld his diploma and is threatening further disciplinary action. pic.twitter.com/VzjRoOAq2k
— BreakThrough News (@BTnewsroom) May 15, 2025
The university condemned Rozos’ speech, accusing him of misrepresenting the content of his address and violating a prior commitment to comply with NYU’s rules for the event.
NYU spokesperson John Beckman said Rozos “lied about the speech he was going to deliver” and misused the platform to express personal and biased political views. As a result, NYU is pursuing disciplinary action and has decided to withhold his diploma pending the outcome.
Rozos, who was selected by his peers to give the graduation address, explained that he felt a moral and political obligation to speak out about the atrocities in Palestine.
His remarks sparked a contentious debate amid heightened tensions around pro-Palestinian advocacy on U.S. college campuses and increased scrutiny from political authorities regarding criticism of Israel.
As reported, NYU withheld Logan Rozos’s diploma because he gave an unauthorized commencement speech condemning the violence in Gaza as genocide supported by the U.S., which the university said violated its rules and misrepresented the speech’s content, leading to disciplinary proceedings.
The X timeline is filled with reactions to NYU’s withholding the diploma of Logan Rozos:
NYU deleted a page highlighting Logan Rozos from its website last night at approx. 8:30 p.m.
The pages for the other eight highlighted students, including 2025 graduates, are still live.https://t.co/1oUjvNBzAQ https://t.co/6FLHITKh6i pic.twitter.com/mtgzETRq9z
— Jacqueline Sweet (@JSweetLI) May 15, 2025
No one should be punished for peaceful protest; no one should be threatened for exercising free speech; and no one should be deported for speaking out for human rights.
All students should feel like they belong on their campus and are free to be themselves without being harassed… https://t.co/MEby5zj6WN— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) May 16, 2025
New generations = Hope! https://t.co/skydSOY7wH
— Walid Magdy 🇵🇸 (@Walid_Magdy) May 16, 2025
If a school can withhold a degree/diploma when you exercise your constitutional rights, then it isn't a school, it's a business. https://t.co/3Ve7YpirDb
— COMIC-CONSIGLIERE (@bliterswrock) May 15, 2025
