Though there were no disruptions by protesters at the Rutgers-Newark ceremony, several graduates accepted their degrees with pro-Palestinian flags and signs.
Tariq Luqmaan Trotter, known as the artist Black Thought, was Rutgers-Newark's commencement speaker during Wednesday's ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark.Rutgers-Newark conferred degrees to one of the largest classes in its history Wednesday in a commencement ceremony at the Prudential Center in Newark capped off with a speech by hip hop icon Tariq Trotter, the musician known as
“You all will be the ones shifting the world for my generation,” said Trotter. “Right now, we have fear. No one knows how we’re going to come out on the other side of all this hurt that has been growing in our chests since well before 2020.”“You are the authors of the new myth borne out of the collapse of the old world, a myth that will finally connect us all,” said Trotter.
On Sunday, Rutgers-New Brunswick’s commencement ceremony at SHI Stadium in Piscataway included a walkout by pro-Palestinian protesters. At least 60 graduates exited the ceremony after the commencement speaker’s address. Many of the protesters wore keffiyehs, the traditional Middle Eastern headdress popular among pro-Palestinian campus activists.
This year’s Rutgers commencements followed a large pro-Palestinian encampment on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus that was set up by students demanding the university divest its investments from companies tied to Israel. The protestersthe encampment May 2 after successfully getting some of their demands met by Rutgers officials, though the school did not agree to divestment.
“When reflecting on our journey, we realize that success is not easily obtainable,” said Malayja Brown, the graduate student speaker. More than 3,100 students will receive degrees, certificates and diplomas from Rutgers-Newark this year, including 393 doctoral students and 944 master’s degree students. This year’s graduating class consisted of students from 32 different countries.
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