Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will no longer speak at the University of Vermont’s commencement ceremony, the university announced Friday evening.
The cancellation appears to be a victory for a nearly week-old encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters on UVM’s Burlington campus. Protesters had demanded that Thomas-Greenfield be removed as the university’s commencement speaker, saying that the ambassador was complicit in the U.S.’ decision to veto three U.N. resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“It is with regret that I share that our planned speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will not be joining us to deliver the Commencement address,” UVM president Suresh Garimella wrote in a lengthy email to community members.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the change of plans. Adam White, a university spokesperson, declined to answer questions.
Thomas-Greenfield and UVM “share the goal of a commencement ceremony that appropriately honors graduates and their achievements,” White said in a texted statement. “Our graduating students want to enjoy the celebration of commencement, and we do not want the potential of disruption from a vocal minority to interfere with the moment.”
Commencement events are scheduled to take place May 18 and 19.
The announcement is the latest development in a fast-moving week on UVM’s campus. On Sunday, amid a nationwide surge of protest on university campuses over the Israel-Hamas war, several hundred students descended on Andrew Harris Commons and pitched a number of tents.
Students issued a series of demands, including the cancellation of the commencement speaker, divestment from Israeli companies, the cutting of ties with Israeli academic institutions and amnesty for student protesters.
Earlier this week, UVM said that it would release information about how its roughly $840 million endowment was invested, another demand made by protesters. At the time, White said that the information was part of an already-scheduled presentation to trustees.
“Victory!” read a Friday evening Instagram post on the page of UVM Students for Justice in Palestine, a prominent campus activist group. “Now, UVM must divest.”
Garimella’s Friday evening email also addressed the continued presence of the encampment on UVM’s campus.
“While I am grateful to the students and university leaders who have engaged in conversation, I note that the demonstration has been continuously in violation of university policies since its inception,” Garimella wrote. “Those who continue to violate UVM policies do so intentionally despite having been given the opportunity to express themselves within campus rules. Therefore, regrettably, appropriate student conduct processes have been initiated for those who have persistently violated university policy.”
It was not immediately clear what “appropriate student conduct processes” meant. White, the UVM spokesperson, did not respond to a question on the subject.
