Academic Outcry: Harvard Graduates Barred from Diplomas over Palestine Protest

Thirteen students supporting Palestine were prevented from graduating from Harvard due to their involvement in pro-Palestine campus protests, even though a majority of the university's Faculty of Arts and Sciences had voted for their degrees to be granted. 

The Harvard Corporation, the university's highest governing body, prohibited these students from receiving their degrees at this year's graduation ceremony on May 23 due to their participation in a three-week pro-Palestine encampment at the university last month. 

Asmer Asrar Safi, a 23-year-old international student at Harvard College studying social studies, ethnicity, migration, and rights, has appealed Harvard's position. 

“I am waiting for the decision to come out. The situation remains as is, unfortunately,” Safi stated. 

Besides Safi, a native of Lahore, Pakistan, twelve other students are in a similar position. 

Another student affected is Shraddha Joshi, who was enrolled in the same program as Safi at Harvard College. Despite support from her faculty, Joshi won't receive her degree. 

"We're stuck in a waiting game after I submitted my appeal application. The process is shrouded in ambiguity, leaving both students and faculty confused about the timeline," Joshi said. 

Like several other academic institutions in the U.S., Harvard University has become embroiled in a growing debate over academic freedoms and the right to protest amidst Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

The pro-Palestine protest wave has surged across the nation, sparking encampments at more than 30 universities. 

Reflecting a widespread sentiment on campuses nationwide, Harvard demonstrators, in collaboration with the Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine (HOOP) coalition, called for transparency regarding the university's investments in companies associated with Israel and pressed for divestment from such entities. 

Subsequent discussions between university authorities and the HOOP coalition led to the dismantling of the encampment on May 14.