Dozens of graduating students expressed their disapproval of Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s commencement address at Virginia Commonwealth University on Saturday morning by staging a walkout.
Approximately 100 out of the university’s 1,200 graduating class members left the Greater Richmond Convention Center while Youngkin was giving the commencement address, according to The Washington Post’s estimation.
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During a recent Board of Visitors meeting, some students expressed their objections to Youngkin delivering the university’s commencement address. They sought his removal from the commencement program, as reported by WTVR-TV in Richmond.
During the discussion with board members, a student emphasized that VCU has always had a bipartisan tradition of inviting gubernatorial speakers to commencement. However, the student argued that progress can only be achieved by challenging tradition.
A significant number of those students belonged to various student organizations, including the university’s NAACP chapter and an ad hoc group called “Not Welcome at VCU.”
On Saturday, several colleges and universities across the country, such as the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin, are set to hold their graduation ceremonies.
Universities, alongside others, have strengthened their security measures in response to the recent surge of pro-Palestinian protests on campuses nationwide.
