Rutgers University Withdraws Invite to a Graduation Speaker over His Criticism of Israel
Rutgers said some graduating students would skip the ceremony over his Israel criticism on social media.
- Rutgers University School of Engineering canceled the scheduled May 15 convocation address by Rami Elghandour, CEO of Arcellx, after student concerns emerged about his social media posts.
- University administrators rescinded the invitation after learning some graduating students would not attend the ceremony due to concerns about the speaker's social media posts focused on Israel.
- Elghandour produced the documentary "The Voice of Hind Rajab" and defended a University of Michigan commencement speech by history professor Derek Peterson that praised pro-Palestinian student activists.
- On social media, Elghandour stated that "after a few students complained about my selection as speaker because of my social media advocacy for Palestine, Rutgers has canceled my speech."
- The cancellation reflects broader springtime commencement debates over the war in Gaza, following Rutgers' January 2025 settlement of a federal civil rights investigation into its handling of antisemitism.
28 Articles
28 Articles
Rutgers Cancels Convocation Speaker Over Extreme Anti-Israel Social Media Posts
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (VINnews) – Rutgers University has rescinded its invitation to biotech entrepreneur Rami Elghandour to deliver the keynote address at its School of Engineering convocation, citing student concerns over his social media criticism of Israel. Elghandour, a Rutgers alumnus and chairman and CEO of Arcellx, was scheduled to speak at the May 15 […]
Rutgers drops commencement speaker over pro-Palestine posts
Rutgers University has canceled a planned graduation speech by business leader Rami Elghandour after some students raised concerns about the speaker's criticism of Israel's genocidal war on Gaza on social media. Elghandour, the CEO of biotech company Arcellx and an alumnus of the New Jersey university, had been set to give the May 15 convocation address at the Rutgers School of Engineering. His invitation was rescinded after the university learn…
The Gateway Pundit
stationgossip.comRutgers Cancels Graduation Speaker After Students Threaten to Boycott Over Anti-Israel Social Media Posts
Image: Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication/ Author: Tomwsulcer Students at Rutgers University School of Engineering threatened to skip their graduation ceremony over the planned speaker’s history of anti-Israel messages. According to The Associated Press, the university responded by removing Rami Elghandour, CEO of biotech company Arcellx and a university alumnus, from the ceremony. Per That invitation was rescinded last …
Rutgers disinvites commencement speaker over tweet claiming Israelis 'train dogs to sexually assault prisoners'
(JTA) — Administrators at Rutgers University have canceled a commencement speaker scheduled for next week, citing an “inflammatory claim” the speaker tweeted about Israel. Rami Elghandour, a Rutgers alumnus and a producer of an Oscar-nominated docudrama about a Palestinian girl who died in Gaza, was set to deliver the speech at the university’s School of Engineering on May 15. But the university, New Jersey’s public flagship, rescinded the invit…
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