Rutgers disinvites convocation speaker after ‘inflammatory’ posts about Israel, sparking anger

Key Points:

• Rutgers University canceled a convocation speech by alumnus and biotech CEO Rami Elghandour due to an “inflammatory” social media post accusing the Israeli military of genocide and abuse, including allegations of sexual assault by prison dogs, which Rutgers deemed too controversial.
• The cancellation followed student protests threatening to boycott the ceremony, with Dean Alberto Cuitiño citing concerns over maintaining a celebratory environment and Elghandour’s focus on visibility rather than the student experience.
• Elghandour criticized Rutgers for what he called viewpoint discrimination and abandoning its principles, pledging to share his speech independently and highlighting his humanitarian work and Oscar-nominated film production on Palestinian issues.
• Faculty and advocacy groups, including a Rutgers lecturer and the New Jersey chapter of CAIR, condemned the decision as censorship and called for reinstatement, emphasizing the importance of free expression and dialogue on sensitive topics in academic settings.
• Rutgers officials stated the decision was made at the school level without involvement from higher university leadership, and the university has faced similar controversies over speakers and events related to Israel-Palestine issues in recent years.