The University of Baltimore recently announced that Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will speak at their Fall 2017 graduation in December, the Baltimore City Paper reports. The controversial choice came as a surprise to students, who say they were excluded from the selection process.
Student government president Mariame Dangnokho released a letter saying the SGA was not aware of the decision until yesterday, and that student leaders were not part of the selection process.
"We understand many of your frustrations and discontent with this invitation and are looking into how this decision was made," she wrote. "As expected, we will keep you informed as we receive updates."
Over 500 people have signed a Change.org petition to University of Baltimore President Kurt Schmoke pledging to hold all financial contributions if DeVos remains a commencement speaker.
Last spring she was a commencement speaker at Bethune-Cookman University, which is a historically Black institution. Many of the graduates protested DeVos’ presence by turning their backs during her speech and booing when she received her honorary degree from the school.