What was supposed to be a graduation at New York university for this year’s graduation class, ending in withholding a student’s diploma due to their graduation speech. On May 14th, 2025-Student and valedictorian of the class 2025 at New York University, Logan Rozos gave his commencement speech at the Gallatin School’s graduation ceremony. Rozos mentioned the ongoing armed war between Gaza and Israel. He described the war as “genocide” and criticized the USA’s involvement in this war.
“I want to say that the genocide currently occurring is supported politically and militarily by the United States, is paid for by our tax dollars, and has been livestreamed to our phones for the past 18 months,”he stated,”I do not wish to speak only to my own politics today, but to speak for all people of conscience, all people who feel the moral injury of this atrocity. And I want to say that I condemn this genocide and complicity in this genocide.”
According to a statement by NYU spokesperson, John Beckman, “NYU strongly denounces the choice by a student at the Gallatin School’s graduation today—one of over 20 school graduation ceremonies across our campus—to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views.” NYU claims that Rozos lied about his speech and violated their schools guidelines, therefore resulting in them enforcing disciplinary actions. Beckman ends his statement with, “NYU is deeply sorry that the audience was subjected to these remarks and that this moment was stolen by someone who abused a privilege that was conferred upon him.” The ceremony was live streamed, and although most of social media and his fellow peers are in support of his statement, NYU views it as a misuse of the privilege given to him.
At BASE high school, we interviewed some seniors on the topic of the matter. In an interview with Ahnaf, a senior at BASE high school, he states, “ I felt that the valedictorian was extremely brave for having the ability to deliver a speech of this manner in front of that many people.” He commends the valedictorian for his efforts, but also states, “I also felt anxious for the valedictorian, as these political issues are sensitive and always carry backlash regardless of who you support, it seemed as if he was making himself a target.”
On the opinion of whether or not, political or global issues should be brought up during a graduation ceremony, Ahnaf states, “I do not think political issues should be brought up at a graduation ceremony, as regardless of reason, it disrupts the event for the hundreds of people who organized it and took time out of their days to attend.”
Following another senior BASE high school, Sihao, states, “I would say it’s definitely inappropriate mostly because you’re going to represent these college or university that you came out of and the last thing you want is to be promoting an idea that an idea that most people want support or care less about because it doesn’t involve them and they don’t want to be involved with it.”
As of now, May 29, 2025, the diploma of Logan Rozos is still being withheld by NYU as they determine what to do.
