Graduation speakers will no longer give live remarks at school-based ceremonies and must instead record their statements for a video, in compliance with a policy NYU is rolling out this year. The transition — which the university said will support “more varied and engaging” ceremonies — comes after NYU faced nationwide backlash for its response to a Gallatin graduate condemning the “genocide currently occurring in Gaza” in his speech last May.
Steinhardt senior Maddy van der Linden was selected as her school’s student speaker on Feb. 6, but four days later, associate dean Daniel Choi told her that her speech will be “professionally recorded,” according to emails obtained by WSN. When van der Linden brought her disapproval of the decision to Steinhardt Dean Jack Knott, he told her via email that the school must create a “respectful experience” at the ceremony, and that in the past, attendees have “left events feeling disappointed or disrespected.”
In an interview with WSN, van der Linden said the university’s lack of communication was frustrating, and that she had “no intention” of deviating from the speech she was selected for. Despite van der Linden’s multiple requests that Steinhardt leadership reconsider its decision — arguing that a video speech lacks human connection — she was told the policy was “final.”
“It’s really not engaging for the families that paid thousands of dollars to see a staged, fake video,” van der Linden said. “Even though we all know it’s because of the political stuff — if I tried to win it that way, it’s just never gonna happen.”
NYU spokesperson Joseph Tirella said the university’s production team will produce the speakers’ videos, which will also allow more students to participate in the event, and confirmed that the universitywide commencement will continue to host live speakers. NYU has not publicly announced the directive, and it is unclear when it was officially enacted.
“Video vignettes and remarks have been an increasing part of the ceremonies at various NYU schools over the years. We know that they have helped create ceremonies and experiences that feel engaging, modern, celebratory and inclusive,” Tirella wrote in a statement to WSN. “We hope and believe this new program format will help us deliver the experience every participant deserves.”
The application to be a Steinhardt student speaker, which was due on Jan. 21, did not mention that speeches would have to be pre-recorded. Several NYU schools, including the College of Arts and Sciences and Gallatin School of Individualized Study, have not yet released applications for student speakers. The Stern School of Business and Tisch School of the Arts released applications for pre-recorded speeches, despite both schools having live speakers at last year’s ceremony.
Last May, the university withheld Gallatin graduate Logan Rozos’ diploma and claimed he diverted from his agreed-upon remarks after he publicly criticized Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza, an incident that made several national news outlets and circulated on social media. NYU faced scrutiny from civil rights organizations, as well as students, faculty and alumni — who created a petition in solidarity with Rozos. Pro-Israeli organizations demanded NYU seek disciplinary action against Rozos, and the Anti-Defamation League later applauded the university for its response.
Dominic Coletti, a program officer at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression — a watchdog organization that evaluates free speech on campuses — told WSN that although it is the university’s choice of ceremonial speeches should be formatted, it would benefit from allowing community members to “express themselves liberally on campus.” In September, NYU received an “F” grade on the organization’s annual free speech ranking.
Van der Linden said that after conducting outreach on the issue with SGA chair Ashlie Oxford, she was advised to create a petition to gather feedback from students, faculty and ceremony attendees to share with administrators. Last week, the university canceled 13 culture, identity and faith-based graduation ceremonies due to the “current political climate,” prompting student leaders to circulate a petition condemning the cancellation.
“They want us to sit on the stage as our video plays next to us, which I think is so dumb,” van der Linden said. “This is not an isolated incident, together with the affinity group celebrations, it is an overall censorship of students. They’ve really turned our graduations into just their own political playgrounds”
Contact Leena Ahmed at [email protected].