*Morehouse College is set to reveal that President Joe Biden will address its graduates on May 19. However, some faculty members have raised concerns, a sentiment echoed by two sources and a faculty email obtained.
“The matter of President Biden being the 2024 Commencement speaker has been brought to my attention by worried faculty,” noted Kendrick Brown, the provost of Morehouse College, in a Friday email to the faculty.
In the email, Brown mentioned scheduling a virtual meeting for Thursday to “afford faculty a chance to voice their views or raise questions concerning our choice of Commencement speaker.” He also mentioned involving students in discussions with college President David Thomas.
Requests for additional comments from Brown went unanswered, and Morehouse’s spokesperson declined to provide further insight, NBC News reported.
One faculty member told NBC that there may be faculty and student protests against Biden at the upcoming ceremony.
The internal debate takes place against the backdrop of broader campus protests against Biden over his stance on Israel and the war with Hamas in Gaza. These protests have already led to a decrease in Biden and other officials’ engagements on campus since last October.
The commencement season can be a strategic platform for presidents, especially in an election year.
However, protests against Biden’s handling of the Gaza situation have complicated his upcoming speeches. These issues, along with his declining popularity among young and Black voters, have added to the challenges.
A source familiar with the debate suggested that speaking at a historically Black institution could be an “opportunity” for Biden.
According to Brown’s email, Morehouse invited Biden in September and plans to make the official announcement soon.
“There is no intention of withdrawing the invitation already accepted by President Biden,” Brown stated, describing the Thursday meeting as a dialogue to address related inquiries.
Amid tensions on campus regarding Gaza, a February incident was reported by the Maroon Tiger where a student removed an Israeli flag and was detained by campus police.
“Students disapprove of the U.S. response and are certainly against the suffering endured by Palestinians and Israelis,” remarked Calvin Bell, a Morehouse student, following the flag incident.
A person familiar with the commencement plans shared with NBC News that while there is widespread concern over the handling of the war and the U.S. presidential role in it, there is also excitement about a sitting president being the commencement speaker.
As the old saying goes, stay tuned, ’cause we shall see.
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