Tipsheet
Premium

UMich Professor Turns Graduation Into Pro-Palestinian Rally

Scott McClallen
Scott McClallen  |  May 03, 2026 8:00 PM

The University of Michigan is under fire after a professor used a graduation ceremony to praise “pro-Palestinian student activists who have, over these past two years, opened our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity to Israel’s war in Gaza.”

UM Professor Derek Peterson thanks anti-Israel protestors for their actions over the past two years. 

University of Michigan President Domenico Grasso condemned the remarks and apologized in a Saturday statement. 

“At today’s U-M spring commencement ceremony, our outgoing Faculty Senate Chair made remarks regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict that were hurtful and insensitive to many members of our community," Grasso said. "We regret the pain this has caused on a day devoted to celebration and accomplishment. For this, the university apologizes."

The Faculty Senate Chair deviated from the remarks he had shared before the ceremony. The Chair’s comments were inappropriate and do not represent our institutional position. Nor do they represent the diversity of views across our entire faculty.

Everyone in our community is entitled to their own views; but this was neither the time nor the place. Commencement is a time of celebration, recognition and unity. The Chair’s remarks were expected to be congratulatory, not a platform for personal or political expression. Introducing such commentary in this setting was inappropriate and did not align with the purpose of the occasion.”