CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts – Thirteen Harvard University students involved in a recent pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus will not be receiving their degrees at this year’s commencement ceremony. The decision, made by the university’s governing board, goes against a recommendation from faculty members to allow the students to graduate alongside their peers.

The students, who set up the pro-Palestinian encampment at Harvard Yard for nearly three weeks in late April, were advocating for the university to divest from Israel and invest in Palestinian academic initiatives, communities, and culture. Despite the students’ participation in the ceremony, they will not be granted their degrees due to their current disciplinary standing.

According to an online statement released by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, students who are not in good standing or facing disciplinary actions are not eligible for degrees as per the Harvard College Student Handbook. While the students can still take part in the graduation ceremonies, they will not officially receive their degrees.

Acknowledging the impact of not being able to graduate on the students and their families, the statement emphasized the university’s support for an expedited review process for reconsideration or appeals by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. If a student becomes eligible for a degree following the completion of all relevant processes, their degree conferral will be considered promptly.

The university’s decision to withhold degrees from the students highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding divestment efforts and activism on college campuses. The push for universities to divest from certain investments, such as those in Israel, has been a point of contention for students and administrations across various institutions.

Overall, the rejection of the students’ right to graduate serves as a reminder of the complexities and consequences of activism on college campuses, particularly when it comes to issues as sensitive and polarizing as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As the students navigate the repercussions of their participation in the protest encampment, the broader conversation around divestment and social justice initiatives on college campuses continues to evolve.