MIT bars Indian-American student Megha Vemuri from graduation ceremony over pro-Palestine speech
New Delhi: The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has barred Class of 2025 president Megha Vemuri from participating in the official graduation commencement ceremony, following a pro-Palestinian speech she delivered at a campus event on Thursday.
Vemuri, an Indian-American student leader, addressed the OneMIT commencement event wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional symbol of Palestinian solidarity. During her speech, she sharply criticized MIT's research collaborations with the Israeli military, accusing the institution of "aiding and abetting" Israel's actions in Gaza. She called for a "free Palestine" and declared that "students of MIT will not tolerate genocide," drawing applause from sections of the audience and widespread attention online.
In a statement released on Friday, MIT confirmed the disciplinary action, without directly naming Vemuri. "While that individual had a scheduled role at today’s Undergraduate Degree Ceremony, she was notified that she would not be permitted at today’s events," said MIT spokesperson Kimberly Allen.
The university stated that the student had misled organisers and disrupted a formal institutional ceremony by deviating from a pre-approved speech. "MIT supports free expression but stands by its decision, which was in response to the individual deliberately and repeatedly misleading Commencement organisers and leading a protest from the stage," Allen said.
The speech, which was widely circulated online by groups including the Palestinian Youth Movement, comes amid intensifying pro-Palestinian activism across U.S. university campuses. Student protesters have been demanding that academic institutions sever financial and research ties with companies and programs linked to the Israeli military.
Vemuri had been scheduled to speak again at Friday’s main graduation event but was formally informed of her exclusion from the proceedings.
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Conflicting claims emerge over former Ashoka University missing student as parents seek probe
Gurugram/New Delhi: A case involving a former Ashoka University student has drawn attention after her parents alleged she went missing and sought a probe into an alleged network, while court records indicate that the woman had left home voluntarily and sought legal protection to live independently.
According to The Print, the parents, who are both academics, have approached the Haryana State Commission for Women, alleging that their daughter was manipulated and used by university officials. They have requested a probe by the National probe Agency and have named multiple individuals, including academic members, researchers, and students, in their complaints.
However, the university stated that the woman ceased to be a student in May 2023 and that its instructors and staff have no participation in the situation.
According to documentation in the case, the woman, who was 22 at the time, left her Rohtak home on October 24, 2023. In her written communication with police officers and the station house officer in Sonipat, she stated that she had departed on her own accord, alleging years of physical and emotional abuse at home and demanding secrecy regarding her location.
She subsequently recorded a statement before a magistrate under provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. She affirmed her decision to live independently and in later complaints, she alleged continued attempts by her family to contact her and sought police protection.
Court records from the Delhi High Court show that she appeared in person before the court in May 2024 and stated that she wished to choose her own way of life and did not want to interact with her family. The court noted her statement and recorded that she was a major acting of her own volition.
In a subsequent order, the court noted that she had been provided police protection since November 2023 and was residing independently, granting her liberty to approach the court again if required.
The parents, meanwhile, have maintained that their daughter was a meritorious student and alleged that she was traced earlier to premises linked to university staff. They also raised concerns over financial transactions and a name change, which they claim point to a larger network.
At the centre of their allegations is Bittu Kaveri Rajaraman, an associate professor at the university. No response has been issued by the individuals named in the complaint so far.
After the matter was taken up by the women’s commission, chairperson Renu Bhatia said the panel may recommend a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
During the hearings, a lawyer claiming to represent the woman arrived before the commission even though she had not been summoned and the commission has asked for her personal appearance.
