The City University of New York Law School is struggling to find a venue for their 2024 graduation ceremony, in the wake of past controversies surrounding the event.
Plans to hold the event at Hunter College fell through, CUNY Dean of Law Sudha Setty told faculty members last week, because of certain “concerns” which she refused to elaborate on.
“They [Hunter College] have a very complicated set of concerns about hosting our commencement. That’s the summary of it,” Setty said according to a recording obtained by Gothamist. When one of her colleagues asked for clarification Setty demurred.
“I might be able to do it elsewhere … we are in a very public setting,” she said.
The objections from Hunter will now force the school to explore the possibility of renting private event space, which could end up being triple the price, Setty said.
CUNY Law’s graduation is planned for May 23, with roughly 160 students in this year’s graduating class.
The situation suggests CUNY Law is still facing blowback from last year’s ceremony, in which speaker Fatima Mousa Mohammed blasted the school for continuing “to train and cooperate with the fascist NYPD, the military.”
CUNY Law is having difficulty finding a place for graduation after past controversies. Google MapsShe offered additional condemnation to the public institution for continuing “to train [Israeli] soldiers to carry out that violence globally.”
The Palestinian activist falsely condemned Israel for “murdering the old, the young, attacking even funerals and graveyards as it encourages lynch mobs to target Palestinian homes and businesses.”
The fire and brimstone were condemned as “hate speech” by both Mayor Adams and CUNY’s Board of Trustees.
The school announced they would suspend student speakers from ceremonies going forward.
Fatima Mousa Mohammed’s speech to CUNY Law students last year was condemned as “hate speech” by Mayor Adams. Twitter
Teachers and students at a pro-Palestinian rally outside of CUNY headquarters in Manhattan on October 18, 2023. Stephen Yang for NY PostIn the wake of Hamas’ Oct 7 terrorist attacks in Israel in which they raped women, decapitated babies, and left at least 1,200 dead — many CUNY students took to the streets in celebration.
The situation prompted Gov. Hochul ordered to order an antisemitism review on campus.
A poll after the massacre found that 57% of American Muslims believed Hamas’ Oct 7 terrorist attacks in Israel were “justified.”
Another recent survey found a majority of Americans aged 18-24 believe Israel should “be ended and given to the Hamas.”
