Two U.S. universities, the University of Vermont (UVM) in Burlington and Xavier University in New Orleans have rescinded their invitations to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield to make commencement addresses at those institutions, due to student opposition to the Biden administration policy on Israel and repression of pro-Palestinian student protesters in the U.S.
According to the New York Times, Reynold Verret, president of the historically Black Xavier University, said he was concerned about possible disruptions to the commencement ceremony, should Thomas-Greenfield speak.
At UVM, students who had set up an encampment on the Burlington campus, had demanded that Thomas-Greenfield be disinvited. Last week, UVM President Suresh Garimella advised students that Thomas-Greenfield wouldn’t be speaking, and wrote them “I see you, I hear you.”
