by Paras Abbasi

On Monday, May 13, more than 800 students graduated from the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs at its annual Class Day ceremony. The event, which was initially planned to take place on the Morningside campus, was later shifted to Baker Athletics Complex.

Students were joined by their families and friends to celebrate their graduation. However, the change of venue was not lost on anyone as students, faculty, families, and friends waited in long lines to get inside the Complex. Dean of SIPA, Keren Yarhi-Milo, delivered remarks to the graduating class. Ian Bremmer, President of the Eurasia Group, delivered the class keynote address. Bremmer’s speech talked about the weakness of public institutions, their legacy, and the failure of political leaders and elites to tend to the institutions. It acknowledged the concern of students about the leaders’ ability to manage the forces that drive society apart. 

Several graduating students adorned keffiyehs over their gowns, decorated their caps in red, and inscribed the names of children killed in Gaza on their caps to honor them. While students are traditionally allowed to represent national flags during the graduation ceremony, flags were banned this year. However, as students walked on the stage, they protested the Columbia administration by holding and waving Palestinian flags, displaying banners calling for divestment, refusing to shake the Dean’s hand, and handing her the divestment demands from the students.

The demands asked the University the following:

1. Divestment of all finances, including the endowment, from corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine.

2. Complete transparency for all of Columbia’s financial investments.

3. Amnesty for all students and faculty disciplined or fired in the movement for Palestinian liberation. 

The event concluded around 10:30 PM, with students, their friends, and their families departing the Complex on 1 train at the 215th station. 

Paras Abbasi (MPA ’25) is the Managing Editor for The Morningside Post.