IU commencement ceremonies will have an ‘area for protests’
Indiana University Bloomington will send off the Class of 2024 during its commencement ceremonies this weekend, with the graduate student ceremony on May 3 in Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, and the undergraduate ceremony on May 4 at Memorial Stadium.
IU also said in an email sent to graduating students and families on April 30 that ceremonies will have a “designated area for protests” outside of Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium, in anticipation of any “disruptions.”
Why is there a ‘designated area for protests’ outside of IU commencement venues?
For the past week, a pro-Palestinian encampment on IU’s Dunn Meadow and subsequent protests and counter-protests have resulted in an increased police presence on campus.
“IU respects the free sharing of ideas and viewpoints, and it is our duty to uphold the right to peaceful protest under the First Amendment,” the email reads.
During the first three days of the protest, confrontations between demonstrators and riot-ready Indiana State Police troopers led to more than 50 arrests. Indiana University Police public information officer Hannah Skibba said all of those arrested were given a notrespass ban from campus, though many of the bans for those actively affiliated with IU have been temporarily stayed.
IU said staff inside the venues will respond to “disruptions,” beginning with “warnings and requests to respect the importance of the celebrations for our graduates and their families.”
“We are committed to providing a meaningful Commencement ceremony worthy of our graduates’ accomplishments,” the email continues.
What security measures will be used during commencement?
The email noted Commencement ceremonies will follow security measures typical for all major IU events, including the use of metal detectors and bag inspections.
Learn more about IU’s typical security measures, including its clear bag policy, at iuhoosiers.com/sports/2017/8/ 14/bag-policies.
Who is the 2024 commencement speaker for IU Bloomington?
Scott Dorsey, the former CEO of Salesforce and co-founder of the Indianapolis-based venture studio High Alpha, will deliver the Commencement address for the May 4 undergraduate ceremony at Memorial Stadium.
Dorsey is a 1989 graduate of the Kelley School of Business.
Who are the student speakers for IU’s graduate and undergraduate commencement ceremonies?
The undergraduate student speaker for the May 4 ceremony is Hannah Pedersen, a biology major who will attend the IU School of Dentistry in the fall.
The graduate student speaker for the May 3 ceremony is Patrick Blackstone, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics in the College of Arts and Sciences who has done research in elementary particle physics. bri