The Stanford University graduation ceremony was disrupted on Sunday. This happened when about 200 students walked out while Sundar Pichai, the Google CEO, was giving a speech. The students were protesting because Google has contracts with the government.
When Sundar Pichai, who went to Stanford and is the CEO of Google, was about to speak, some students stood up. They waved flags and blew whistles. They also chanted slogans that supported Palestine before leaving the ceremony. Many of the students who were protesting wore keffiyehs. Carried banners. They left the ceremony, which made the graduation a big political event.
The protest was about Project Nimbus. This project is a deal between Google, Amazon and the Israeli government. It is worth 1.2 billion dollars. The students who organised the protest said that this project helps the government with military and surveillance operations. The students who organised the protest were from groups like Students for Justice in Palestine and No Tech for Apartheid. They have been criticising Google for being involved in Project Nimbus.
Sundar Pichai kept speaking even though the students walked out. Most of the graduates listened to what he had to say. He talked about being a leader, being strong and making good decisions. He also talked about being positive and taking risks. Sundar Pichai did not talk about the protest or Project Nimbus. Instead, he told the graduates to be optimistic and contribute to society in some way.
After the walkout, many of the students who protested went to an event. This event was called the “People’s Commencement.” The speakers at this event talked about how companies have much influence in universities. They also talked about how technology companies should not be involved in government and military contracts. The students who organised this event said it was a way for people to come together and talk about issues. This event was not part of the university programme.
The protest at Stanford shows that there are disagreements on university campuses in the United States. Many universities have had protests and demonstrations about the Israel-Gaza conflict. Students have been asking their universities to distance themselves from companies that are involved in surveillance technologies.
The graduation ceremony at Stanford was marked by division. For some students, it was a day to celebrate their achievements. For others, it was a chance to talk about issues that affect the world. The protest at the ceremony showed that big global conflicts are still a part of conversations and activism on university campuses in the United States.
