Professor's speech praising pro-Palestinian students sparks backlash at University of Michigan
The apology drew backlash from Jewish groups and Republican officials, who called for funding cuts after the speech spread online within hours.
- On Saturday, University of Michigan Faculty Senate Chair Derek Peterson praised pro-Palestinian student activists during commencement, prompting University President Domenico Grasso to apologize later that day for remarks he called "inappropriate."
- Tensions surrounding Israel's war in Gaza have persisted for two years, with commencement events increasingly becoming stages for political expression and disruption across United States universities.
- Following the apology, roughly 1,000 professors signed a petition supporting Peterson, while critics including Florida Sen. Rick Scott and investor Adam Milstein called for federal funding cuts and donation halts.
- President Grasso stated he will work with university leadership to "review and refine" future commencement programming, while American Jewish Committee CEO Ted Deutch urged the Board of Regents to ensure campus culture reflects institutional values.
- Academic labor groups including the American Association of University Professors and American Federation of Teachers argue leadership must defend faculty speech against external political pressure, reflecting a deeper debate on institutional neutrality.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Michigan Prof's Only Offense: Humanizing Palestinians
Silver Springs, Md. (Special to Informed Comment; Feature) – I am a Jewish American-Israeli, and a veteran of the IDF. But according to the University of Michigan administration, I am someone who needs to be protected from the truth. On May 2, the University did not merely censor this year’s commencement speech. It treated the mention of Palestinian humanity as a radioactive heresy that had to be scrubbed from the record as if a crime had been …
University of Michigan in Row Over Professor’s Endorsement of ‘Pro-Palestinian Student Activists’
The University of Michigan Union. Photo: Dominick Sokotoff/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor is a house divided after a professor used his commencement speech to praise pro-Hamas activists, dozens of whom participated in a destructive wave of protests that scarred Jewish students and prompted the intervention of the federal government. “Sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists who have over these past two…
The Toronto Star
The RecordProfessor’s speech praising pro-Palestinian students sparks backlash at University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has issued a formal apology after a history professor lauded pro-Palestinian student protesters in a commencement speech over the weekend.
Associated Press News
Professor's speech praising pro-Palestinian students sparks backlash at University of Michigan
The University of Michigan has apologized after a history professor delivering a commencement speech praised pro-Palestinian student protesters for drawing attention to the war in Gaza.
Hundreds of Michigan Professors Rally To Defend Faculty Chair Who Praised 'Pro-Palestinian Student Activists' During Commencement Speech
More than 400 professors at the University of Michigan signed an anti-Israel letter supporting a faculty leader who used his commencement speech to praise "pro-Palestinian student activists" and denounce Israel's "war in Gaza," calling his comments "thoughtful" and "ethically rich."The post Hundreds of Michigan Professors Rally To Defend Faculty Chair Who Praised 'Pro-Palestinian Student Activists' During Commencement Speech appeared first on .
U of Michigan Apologizes After Faculty Chair Praises Pro-Palestinian Students During Commencement Speech
University of Michigan professor Derek Peterson praises campus pro-Palestinian protesters during his commencement speech in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 2, 2026. (Screenshot via YouTube) The University of Michigan has issued a formal apology after its faculty senate chair went off-script to praise pro-Palestinian student protesters during a commencement address May 2, JTA reported. Derek Peterson, who also praised the memory of the school’s first Je…
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