NYU Withholds Diploma from Student Who Vilified Israel in Commencement Speech

New York University announced Thursday it would withhold a diploma from a graduating student who used a commencement speech to attack Israel and U.S. policy in the Middle East and, according to the school’s president, lied about what he would discuss.

Logan Rozos, chosen by his peers to speak on behalf of NYU’s Gallatin School graduates, delivered remarks that accused Israel of committing “genocide” against Palestinians and denounced what he called American “complicity.” The speech was met with enthusiastic applause from parts of the audience but triggered swift backlash from pro-Israel organizations and Jewish advocacy groups.

Many Jewish students and groups said the comments created a hostile atmosphere and violated NYU’s own expanded definition of antisemitism, which includes delegitimizing of Israel or applying to it a double standard.

“No student — especially Jewish students — should have to sit through politicized rhetoric that promotes harmful lies about Israel during such a personal milestone,” the Anti-Defamation League stated. The group #EndJewHatred echoed this sentiment, calling the speech deeply troubling and inconsistent with the values of inclusion and safety.

In response to the uproar, NYU spokesperson John Beckman issued a statement condemning Rozos’ speech and clarifying the university’s disciplinary response.

“He lied about the speech he was going to deliver and violated the commitment he made to comply with our rules,” Beckman said. “The University is withholding his diploma while we pursue disciplinary actions.”

Beckman added that Rozos had exploited the commencement stage to push “personal and one-sided political views,” diverging sharply from the university’s expectations for such high-profile events.

Rozos, a theater student and actor, did not respond to ABC’s requests for comment.

NYU, where President Donald Trump’s son Barron is a student, had until now largely escaped direct confrontation with the Administration, though many other schools, including Harvard, have been taken to task for allowing antisemitsm to flourish on campus.

Last year’s commencement season was fraught with protests and disruptions tied to the Gaza conflict; this year’s events are being held under stricter rules, ABC reported

The news outlet quoted one Jewish student on campus as saying: “Our graduation should be a time to celebrate achievements—not to be subjected to propaganda that casts our very identity into question.”