BUZZ
The University of Michigan’s faculty senate chair faces growing calls for censure over his commencement praise of anti-Israel protesters, despite an apology from the university president.
“Sing for the pro-Palestinian student activists who have over these past two years opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza,” said Professor Derek Peterson during his speech Saturday.
The remarks — unapproved from his submitted speech for the spring commencement at Michigan Stadium — quickly went viral on social media.
“@UMich Professor Derek Peterson shoutouts terrorist sympathizers during this morning’s commencement. Unbelievable,” posted Benny Shaevsky, an alumnus of the school who posted the video clip.
The remarks, although cheered by some at the time in the stadium, have since prompted outrage and calls for repercussions for the history and African studies professor.
University of Michigan Regent Sarah Hubbard posted on X that the incident “is incredibly troubling and disappointing” and plans to raise the issue with the Board of Regents and university administration.
“His conduct was unbecoming for a leader of the greatest university in the world. As the Board of the university we have an opportunity to make lasting changes that will change the course of this conduct,” Hubbard wrote May 3.
Michael Schostak, a candidate running for the Board of Regents, also weighed in: “I am disgusted by this educational ‘leader’ who used his platform at spring commencement to attack Israel.”
“Commencement ceremonies exist to unite the University community around academic achievement, personal growth, and the promise of what comes next. It should not become a stage for political activism that leaves students feeling excluded or uncomfortable during one of the most important milestones of their lives,” he wrote in a post on X.
University President Domenico Grasso, in a statement, apologized for the “hurtful and insensitive” remarks, but stopped short of saying Peterson faces any consequences for deviating from his approved speech, instead promising to “review and refine future commencement programming.”
“Everyone in our community is entitled to their own views; but this was neither the time nor the place,” the president wrote. “Introducing such commentary in this setting was inappropriate and did not align with the purpose of the occasion.”
Schostak stated the president’s remarks did not go far enough.
“There needs to be real accountability for someone who deviated from their ‘approved remarks.’ Put him on leave without pay, strip him of administrative support or research assistants, cut his expense budget, among others,” he posted on X.
This is not the first time Peterson has made headlines. In the days after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, he stated in a faculty-wide email that Kirk was “no friend of academic freedom” and that his “demagoguery has endangered a great many people,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
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