Identity of Speakers
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Megha Vemuri
Student
OtherPresident of MIT’s Class of 2025
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
University-sponsored lecture/address/panel
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Student sanctioned
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
In May 2025, Megha M. Vemuri, president of MIT’s Class of 2025, delivered a commencement speech during the OneMIT event that criticized the university’s connections to Israel. She said, “We are watching Israel try to wipe Palestine off the face of the earth, and it is a shame that MIT is a part of it.” Vemuri expressed support for pro-Palestinian activists on campus and called for solidarity with a “free Palestine.” Her remarks had not been approved by the university.
Following the speech, MIT administrators barred Vemuri and her family from attending the remaining commencement events. The university cited violations of its policies governing the time, place, and manner of expression, explaining that her actions disrupted the orderly conduct of the ceremony. Although barred from attending the official undergraduate degree ceremony, Vemuri earned her degree and received her diploma by mail. She challenged the university’s decision, stating that her speech was an exercise of free expression, not a protest.
