NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Cambridge, MA/Alpharetta, GA, May 30, 2025: Megha Vemuri, class president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Class of 2025, delivered a commencement speech on May 29 that drew widespread attention for its criticism of Israel and MIT’s institutional affiliations.
Vemuri grew up in Alpharetta, Georgia, and went to Alpharetta High School.
Speaking at Killian Court as part of the university’s graduation ceremony, Vemuri, who was selected to speak in her role as elected class president, addressed the ongoing war in Gaza. She referred to Israel’s actions as a “genocide” and criticized MIT’s research collaborations with the Israeli military, calling them “shameful.”
Vemuri noted that both the undergraduate student body and the graduate student union had previously voted to end the university’s ties with the Israeli military. She also alleged that students advocating for Palestinian rights had faced “threats, intimidation, and suppression” from MIT administrators.
Wearing a red keffiyeh—a traditional scarf associated with Palestinian solidarity—Vemuri urged fellow graduates to speak out against injustice and remain engaged in global issues.
The following day, MIT administration barred Vemuri and her family from participating in the remainder of the commencement events. Chancellor Melissa Nobles stated that Vemuri had delivered a different speech than the one approved and led a protest from the stage, which the university considered a deliberate misrepresentation and a violation of campus expression rules.
Vemuri responded to the ban by accusing MIT of overreach and challenging the claim that her remarks constituted a staged protest.
The speech received mixed reactions. Supporters praised Vemuri for raising awareness about international human rights concerns, while critics questioned the appropriateness of the remarks at a commencement ceremony and expressed disapproval online.
MIT has not issued a formal statement in response to the speech.
