Xavier University cancels UN ambassador’s commencement speech after student outcry
NEW ORLEANS– Xavier University of Louisiana has reversed course and canceled Saturday’s planned speech by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield after news of her appearance sparked outrage among some students.
University President Reynold Verret announced the decision in an email to faculty, staff and students on Wednesday.
“Everyone’s goal is to hold a commencement ceremony that appropriately honors the graduates and their achievements,” Verret wrote. “The vast majority of students would like to be able to enjoy a commencement ceremony unhindered. That is why we are not going ahead with the starting speaker as originally planned.”
Students were outraged by Thomas-Greenfield’s invitation to speak because of their opposition to the US’s previous positions on the war in Gaza. Before presenting a March resolution to the UN Security Council calling for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza,” the US vetoed three other ceasefire resolutions proposed by other countries were proposed.
In explaining one veto, Thomas-Greenfield said the US cannot support ceasefire resolutions that do not mention Israel’s right to self-defense; explaining another, she said the US cannot support a ceasefire until Hamas frees the hostages it took during the October 7 attack on Israel.
Verret called the cancellation a “regrettable conclusion” and said the decision was made in collaboration with the ambassador.
Thomas-Greenfield did not comment on the decision. She faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont, where she was scheduled to give the commencement address on May 19. Pro-Palestinian student protesters called on the school to cancel her speech, citing the ceasefire vetoes. The school announced on Friday that it would not speak.
Chase Patterson, president of the Xavier Student Government Association, who wrote a letter to administrators urging them to reconsider their starting choices, applauded Verret’s decision to listen to their concerns.
“We are grateful that President Verret actually listened to our call,” Patterson told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. “This makes me optimistic that students will continue to support us and we will continue to support them and that the board will continue to listen to us.”
Although many students and others spoke out against the invitation, Verret said many still believe Thomas-Greenfield’s contribution to the ceremony would have been meaningful, the newspaper reported.
“We look forward to welcoming the ambassador to campus in the future to have substantive conversations with our students and teachers,” he said.
The graduation ceremony is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. at the university’s Convocation Center. Verret did not say whether there will be a new speaker to fill Thomas-Greenfield’s spot.