Columbia University's acting president, Claire Shipman, faced boos from some of the 12,000 graduates at the commencement ceremony. The graduates, class of 2025, expressed mixed emotions of gratitude and anger, stemming from campus lockdowns, student arrests at pro-Palestinian protests, and leadership turnover. Despite the disruption, Shipman delivered her remarks, urging graduates to contribute to the world.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.