The Rutgers School of Engineering canceled Rami Elghandour\u2019s convocation speech.<\/p>\n
Photo by Isaiah Vazquez\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The Rutgers University at New Brunswick School of Engineering canceled a pro-Palestinian alumnus as its convocation speaker after, the university says, some graduating students complained about his social media posts.<\/p>\n
In March, the school\u2019s website published an \u201cAlumni Spotlight\u201d interview<\/a> with Rami Elghandour, chairman and chief executive officer of biotechnology company Arcellx. The piece touted his social justice and humanitarian advocacy and noted he was an executive producer of The Voice of Hind Rajab, an Oscar-nominated film about a Gazan girl killed by Israeli forces in the recent war.<\/p>\n Elghandour was set to speak at the school\u2019s May\u00a015 convocation, but the school canceled. In a statement to Inside Higher Ed, the university said the \u201cSchool of Engineering was recently informed that some graduating students would not attend their graduation ceremony due to concerns about the invited speaker\u2019s social media posts, including one that shared an inflammatory claim.\u201d The university pointed to an April\u00a020 post on X<\/a>. <\/p>\n In it, Elghandour replied to a post by U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, that said, \u201cThe free ride is over. Israel has a $45\u00a0billion defense budget. I am Team America.\u201d <\/p>\n Elghandour responded, \u201cForget a free ride. They\u2019ve committed genocide. They\u2019re running dungeons where they train dogs to sexually assault prisoners\u00a0\u2026 Weapons embargo is the absolute minimum. Sanctions and diplomatic isolation are beyond justified. This we\u2019ll sell them weapons won\u2019t fly.\u201d<\/p>\n The university\u2019s statement said that, \u201cafter discussing these concerns with the speaker, the School of Engineering has rescinded\u201d the invitation, adding, \u201cThis decision keeps the focus on our engineering students and honors the celebratory spirit of the event to ensure that no graduate feels forced to choose between their personal convictions and a convocation ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n