It feels like for the longest time, we’ve all been watching the world, especially those hallowed halls of higher learning, and wondering if anyone still remembers what common sense looks like. You know, that old-fashioned idea where actions have consequences, and where solemn occasions aren’t just another open mic night for the perpetually aggrieved to hijack.

It’s been a bit like watching a slow-motion comedy, hasn’t it? Except, frankly, it stopped being funny a while ago. But every now and then, you see a little glimmer, a tiny spark that suggests maybe, just maybe, someone in charge has decided to actually be in charge. And when that happens, well, it’s worth a closer look.

Speaking of which, a rather interesting situation just unfolded at New York University, a place not exactly known as a bastion of conservative thought. It seems a graduation ceremony took an unexpected turn, and for once, the university administration didn’t just wring its hands and mumble apologies to the disruptors. Instead, they took a stand, and it’s a story that’ll make you wonder if the tide is finally turning, even a little.

The Graduation Stage Hijacked

Our story centers on one Logan Rozos, a 24-year-old graduating student from NYU’s Gallatin School, who was selected by fellow students to deliver a commencement address. Now, you’d think that’s an honor, a chance to offer some uplifting words, perhaps a fond farewell. But Mr. Rozos, who self-describes as an “actor, artist, and gay black trans man,” apparently had other plans for his moment in the spotlight.

Instead of reflecting on academic achievements or future hopes, Rozos launched into a diatribe, declaring, “My moral and political commitments guide me to say that the only thing that is appropriate to say in this time, and to a group this large, is a recognition of the atrocities currently happening in Palestine.” He then went on to accuse Israel of “genocide,” a claim amplified by condemning supposed US “complicity,” all “paid for by our tax dollars.” Predictable, tiresome, and utterly out of place, but there you have it. Some in the crowd even cheered, which tells you a lot about the campus climate these days.

NYU Drops the Hammer: Promises Kept, Rules Enforced

This is where things get interesting. Instead of cowering, NYU actually acted. The university swiftly announced it was withholding Rozos’s diploma. Why? Because, as it turns out, Mr. Rozos apparently isn’t just an aspiring orator of divisive rhetoric, but also, allegedly, not one for keeping his word.

NYU spokesman John Beckman didn’t mince his words.

From ‘The Post Millennial,’ citing NYU spokesman John Beckman:

“He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules.”

Beckman continued, stating NYU “strongly denounces the choice by a student…to misuse his role as student speaker to express his personal and one-sided political views.” The university even apologized 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.” Imagine that! An institution actually holding someone accountable for breaking rules and hijacking an event. Refreshing, isn’t it?

When “Divisive and False” is Just Putting it Mildly

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of New York and New Jersey also chimed in, expressing they were “appalled” that a graduation speaker “altered their approved speech to make divisive and false comments about the current Israel/Hamas war.” They also thanked NYU for their “strong condemnation and their pursuit of disciplinary action.”

Let’s be clear: accusing Israel of “genocide” isn’t just “divisive and false”; it’s a well-worn, ugly trope often used to delegitimize the Jewish state and, yes, stoke antisemitism. For a university to not only recognize this but to act decisively against a student who perpetrated it under false pretenses is a significant step. Of course, the usual suspects, like many commenters on the Washington Post’s coverage, are wailing about “free speech.” They conveniently ignore that this wasn’t about what was said in a public park, but about lying to gain a platform and then abusing that platform at an official university event, violating agreed-upon rules. There’s a difference.

It’s a small victory, perhaps, in the grand scheme of things. But it’s a sign that maybe, just maybe, some institutions are remembering that with rights come responsibilities, and with platforms come expectations of integrity. One can only hope this isn’t an isolated incident, but the start of a trend where accountability makes a welcome comeback on our college campuses.

Key Takeaways:

• NYU upholds standards, penalizing a student’s deceptive, rule-breaking speech.
• University and ADL condemn student’s false, divisive rhetoric from official platform.
• Welcome accountability: Institutions are now challenging radical campus activism.

Sources: The Post Millennial, The Washington Post