US EditionUniversity of Michigan Professor Defends Pro-Palestinian Commencement Remarks: "Michigan Is Not a Finishing School"
The remarks drew university backlash and a faculty letter with more than 600 signatories, while President Domenico Grasso apologized and called them hurtful and insensitive.
- On Saturday, University of Michigan Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson praised pro-Palestinian student activists during the commencement ceremony, urging graduates to honor their advocacy while singing the school's fight song.
- Peterson's comments emerged amid ongoing campus tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war, with activists demanding divestment from companies with ties to Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.
- University President Domenico Grasso issued a statement calling the remarks "hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community," asserting they did not represent the institution's position of neutrality.
- More than 1,000 faculty members, staff, and students signed an open letter demanding Grasso retract the apology, arguing the speech appropriately celebrated the university's history of student activism.
- Republican regent candidates Michael Schostak and Lena Epstein described Peterson's track record as "divisive," calling for accountability measures including leave without pay for deviating from his approved speech.
14 Articles
14 Articles
University of Michigan apologizes after professor praises anti-Israel activists at commencement
Domenico Grasso, president of the University of Michigan, issued an apology on Saturday after a faculty leader praised pro-Palestinian student activists during a spring commencement speech.Derek Peterson, a history and African studies professor and outgoing faculty senate chair, urged graduates to remember the thousands of students who “have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of social justice over the course of centuries.” One of the examples …
'Cowardly': University of Michigan Blasted After Apologizing for Commencement Speaker's Praise of Pro-Palestine Students
The University of Michigan is facing criticism after it apologized and said it was launching a review into a professor's commencement speech in which he praised the school's pro-Palestine student movement for highlighting the “injustice and inhumanity” of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza.
Speech by University of Michigan professor draws cheers from students, boos from school leadership - WDET 101.9 FM
University of Michigan Professor Derek Peterson wanted to highlight the work of school activists – both past and present – in his commencement speech over the weekend. What he got was controversy. Peterson discussed the work of suffragette Sarah Burger Stearns, the woman who worked for years to get the University of Michigan to admit women to the school. He talked about the Black Action Movement of the 1970s and ’80s that sought to make campus l…
U-M faculty slam president’s apology for faculty leader’s commencement speech
Faculty call for withdrawal of U-M President Grasso’s apology for a commencement speech by the chair of the Faculty Senate. Professor Derek Peterson’s speech lauded pro-Palestinian students while celebrating student activism.
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