It is often said that youth are politically apathetic, but make no mistake: This generation is educated and aware. As some might say, they are woke. College students around the country are paying attention and are saying no again and again to Republicans and to the Trump administration. Specifically, they are taking a stand against inappropriate speakers at their graduation ceremonies ruining what are supposed to be special and celebratory occasions— knowing that those speakers’ policies represent hatred, intolerance and the marginalization of vulnerable communities.
Last week, students participating in the graduation at Bethune-Cookman University showed Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that she had no business speaking at a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Then, students at Texas Southern University were able to cancel the scheduled commencement speech by Texas Sen. John Cornyn at their graduation. And these students are not done yet. On Sunday, when Mike Pence delivers the commencement address at Notre Dame, it looks like some students plan to walk out.
Some students at the Catholic university plan to walk out of the speech as part of a protest against Pence and his policies, which they say target marginalized people on the basis of their religion, skin color or sexual orientation, according to the student activist group We Stand For.
Luis Miranda, a co-organizer of the walkout, said Pence, as Indiana governor and as vice president, targeted vulnerable people with his policies. Catholic values promote standing up for the poor and marginalized, so he plans to stand up on Sunday, literally.
Miranda said some of his family members are undocumented immigrants and have felt under siege by the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration.
"They are going to be in the audience in one of the most important moments of my life with someone targeting them for who they are," he said.
Why do administrators continue to force students to endure such abhorrent speakers on their special day? After all, it says so much about what they value—and what they value isn’t at all good. Money from politicians with questionable ethics and downright harmful behavior, access to power no matter what the cost, standing in solidarity with hatred and bigotry all seem to trump these students’ right to celebrate their academic success and achievement. What a disappointment for these students to have spent so much time, effort and money at institutions that don’t care one bit for their right to have a graduation free of a speaker who isn’t a complete jackass.
So far, only a small number of students have signed up to protest but the organizers remain confident that the action sends a message that they are standing up for important values.
As of Thursday afternoon, about 75 people had signed up to participate in the walkout.
"This is not just about the numbers, but about standing up for truth," Miranda said. "We feel that there is power in truth and hopefully there will be power in numbers that come stand up with us."
Good luck to them on Sunday. This generation continues to do its work to upend the status quo and make us proud. It’s not likely to happen in Indiana, but wouldn’t it be nice if Pence ends up speaking to an empty room?