News | Student life

‘You have become our teachers’: Community gathers for ‘The People’s Graduation’

The event was held at Cathedral of St. John the Divine organized by a group of faculty and staff in the aftermath of the April 18 and April 30 police sweeps of the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” and occupied Hamilton Hall.

By Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

A graduate holding their decorated cap. Many graduates wore keffiyehs along with their Columbia regalia.

By Maya Stahl and Sarah Huddleston • May 18, 2024 at 12:04 AM

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Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

A graduate holds up their decorated cap.

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Seales painted the back of her Columbia regalia. She served as the emcee for the proceedings.

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Staff members hand out event programs with an illustrated red poppy on the cover.

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Dandia delivers his address to the class of 2024.

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Jarrar delivering her address.

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Joudah reading from his poetry collection “[...].”

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Khoudary thanked the student protesters who “gave us hope” and said that “hopefully I’ll see you one day soon when all of this ends.”

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

Seales asked audience members to stand in recognition of the “kinds of collective care we each have given and received over the past several weeks.”

Photo by Isabel Iino / Staff Photographer

The musical group “The Liberated Zone” performed.