NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) — For a second time, acting Columbia University President Claire Shipman was met with loud booing during the university’s commencement ceremony Wednesday.
The crowd booed as Shipman took the stage, then again throughout her speech at the university-wide graduation ceremony, which was canceled last year amid pro-Palestinian protests.
The booing at Wednesday’s ceremony reached a peak as she directly addressed the detention of Palestinian graduate student Mahmoud Khalil.
“We firmly believe that our international students have the same rights to freedom of speech as everyone else,” she said, pausing for loud booing. She continued, “…And they should not be targeted by the government for exercising that right… I know many in our community today are mourning the absence of our graduate, Mahmoud Khalil.”
Meanwhile, a pro-Palestinian protest formed outside the ceremony, according to Reuters.
It’s the second day Shipman faced such a response from the audience. During a Class of 2025 commencement ceremony Tuesday, videos circulated online of Shipman being booed during her speech as audience members changed “Free Mahmoud.”
The university has faced criticism for how it handled pro-Palestinian protests on campus and pressure from President Donald Trump. In March, Columbia University agreed to make changes amid threats that Trump would pull funding.
Shipman and the university also faced criticism for their handling of Khalil’s detention. Khalil is still in ICE custody after being he was detained at his Columbia-owned apartment building without a judicial warrant, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.