A Michigan university is reportedly being criticized for hosting a handful of smaller graduation ceremonies — alongside its larger commencement celebration — for college students of various races, sexualities and gender identities.
Grand Valley State University in Allendale is having separate ceremonies next month for black, Asian, Hispanic, Native American and LGBTQIA+ students, Fox News said.
That is along with the larger ceremony at which degrees are conferred.
But some people have taken exception.
“Ridiculous,” tweeted conservative commentator Matt Walsh. “Grand Valley State University (@GVSU) is holding five segregated graduation celebrations, singling out Asian, black, LGBT, Hispanic, and Native American graduates.
“There can be no special celebrations for straight white people, after all.”
The university defended its decision, telling Fox News Digital that it’s holding a unified graduation ceremony for all of its students and that almost all who take part in the smaller celebrations will participate within the larger one as well.
“GVSU isn’t ‘segregating graduation ceremonies by race,’ as some people and outlets have said,” the university said.
“Grand Valley also welcomes student organizations and school leaders to carry smaller-scale celebrations designed to honor graduates,” the varsity added.
“These more intimate celebrations are a complement to GVSU’s Commencement and are open to all students and their supporters.”
Several other universities have held similar ceremonies lately, including Columbia University in Recent York City, which hosts celebrations for several affinity groups on campus, Fox said.
Harvard University has also held graduation celebrations for black, Asian, Latino and LGBTQ students.
GVSU first made headlines back in 2020, when football coach Morris Berger called Adolf Hitler a “great leader” during an interview with its student newspaper.
Berger was suspended and then resigned three days later.
