Indian student slams Harvard University for barring pro-Palestine protesters in graduation speech
Over 1000 students staged walkout following speech in solidarity with barred students
Cambridge: In a dramatic turn of events during Harvard University's commencement ceremony, Shruthi Kumar, a graduating student from Nebraska, deviated from her prepared speech to sharply criticize the university for its actions against students protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Kumar, an Indian American chosen to deliver the English commencement address for the undergraduate class, used her platform to highlight what she described as the university's intolerance towards freedom of speech and civil disobedience.
"As I stand here today, I must take a moment to recognize my peers—the 13 undergraduates in the class of 2024 who will not graduate today," Kumar stated, referring to the students who were barred from graduating due to their involvement in pro-Palestine protests. Despite a majority vote by the faculty of arts and sciences in favor of allowing these students to graduate, the Harvard Corporation, the university’s governing body, decided on Wednesday to prevent them from graduating.
According to the Harvard Crimson, the 13 students faced disciplinary action for their active participation in campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza, which the protesters described as genocidal. This decision sparked significant backlash among the student body and faculty.
During her speech, Shruthi Kumar pulled out a piece of paper containing her off-script remarks, which she had hidden in her gown. "I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and the right to civil disobedience on campus," she declared, receiving widespread applause and a standing ovation from her peers.
She continued, "The students have spoken. The faculty have spoken. Harvard, do you hear us?"
Kumar also highlighted personal experiences of being targeted, stating, "In the fall, my name and identity, alongside other black and brown students at Harvard, were publicly targeted. For many of us, students of color, doxxing left our jobs uncertain, our safety uncertain, our well-being uncertain."
She called for solidarity, emphasizing the importance of empathy and support despite differences in personal experiences. "We are in a moment of intense division and disagreement in our community over the events in Gaza. I see pain, anxiety, and unrest across campus. But, it’s now in a moment like this that the power of not knowing becomes critical. Maybe, we don’t know what it’s like to be ethnically targeted. Maybe, we don’t know what it’s like to come face to face with violence and death. But, we don’t have to know. Solidarity is not dependent on what we know. Because, not knowing is an ethical stance," she said.
Following Kumar’s speech, over 1,000 Harvard University students staged a walkout in solidarity with the 13 undergraduates.
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2nd WT20I: Shafali, spin trio do star turns in India''s seven-wicket win
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Shafali Verma hit a blistering unbeaten 69 as India made short work of a paltry target to outclass Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Women’s T20 International here on Tuesday.
India now lead the five-match series 2-0 after another one-sided victory, having restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 128 for 9 through a collective display of disciplined bowling from the spin trio of seasoned Sneh Rana, ably complemented by young spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Shree Charani.
During the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (14) fell cheaply but Shafali, enjoying new found confidence after a stellar show in the World Cup final, sent the bowlers on a leather-hunt during her 34-ball knock, winning it for her team in just 11.5 overs.
The hosts have now completed back-to-back successful chases within 15 overs which speaks volumes about the unit's sky-high confidence.
Shafali's innings had 11 punchy boundaries apart from a maximum.
The floodgates opened when left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera bowled a few flighted deliveries and Shafali would step out everytime to hit her over extra cover. Her footwork against slow bowlers was immaculate whether stepping out to loft the ball or rocking back to punch or pull.
Seeing her confidence, the newly appointed Delhi Capitals skipper Jemimah Rodrigues (26 off 15 balls) also attacked as the duo added 58 runs in just 4.3 overs.
By the time Rodrigues was out trying to hit one six too many, the match as a contest was over. Shafali completed her half-century off just 27 balls and completed the formalities in a jiffy.
Earlier, off-spinner Rana, who got a look-in after Deepti Sharma was ruled out due to fever, showed her utility keeping the Lankan batters under tight leash with figures of 1 for 11 in 4 overs, including a maiden which certainly is a rarity in T20 cricket.
Charani, who made an impression during India's ODI World Cup triumph, took 2 for 23 in her quota of overs, while Vaishnavi after an impressive debut in the opening encounter, finished with 2 for 32, not letting the Islanders get easy runs in her second spell.
The last six wickets fell for just 24 runs, but what stood out during India’s bowling effort was their superb ground fielding. After a patchy show in the previous game, the improved sharpness in the field resulted in three run-outs.
Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapaththu (31 off 24 balls) looked in good nick as she deposited length deliveries from seamers Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy over the ropes but it was Rana, who kept her quiet by repeatedly pitching on good length.
Unable to manoeuvre the strike and with the big hits suddenly drying up, Athapaththu chanced her arm at another delivery in which Rana had shortened the length slightly.
Not having transferred the weight into the lofted shot, Athapaththu's hoick was pouched cleanly by Amanjot Kaur at long-off.
This was after Athapaththu's opening partner Vishmi Gunaratne (1) had offered a simple return catch to Gaud.
Hasini Perera (22 off 28 balls) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33 off 32 balls) did stitch a stand of 44 but they could never set the tempo against the Indian spin troika.
Once Hasini offered a tame return catch off a Charani full-toss, Sri Lankans never recovered and lost wickets in a heap towards the end.
