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Trustee urges code-of-conduct changes after graduation protest; board asks administration to investigate
Summary
After a student disrupted graduation while displaying a Palestine flag, Trustee Torpey urged the policy committee to add narrow language to prohibit disruptive flags/signs at ceremonies; trustees agreed to have administration review the incident and policy committee to examine code language.
Trustee Jesse Torpey recounted a student who, during graduation, displayed a Palestine flag and shouted, "Free Palestine," and said he declined to shake that student's hand on principle. Torpey argued the action disrupted the ceremony and proposed the policy committee review the code of conduct to add narrow language addressing graduation ceremonies.
"Turning a shared ceremony into a personal political platform interrupted the proceedings for every graduate, family member, and attendee," Torpey said, calling the conduct "inappropriate" and saying graduation should be protected as a dignified recognition for all graduates. He said he would ask the policy committee to consider a provision banning the display of flags, signs or banners that "disrupt the orderly conduct of the event."
Trustees debated whether such a policy would risk infringing on expression; one trustee cautioned about First Amendment implications and asked the policy committee to consider the balance carefully. The board reached consensus to ask administration to review the event (including video) and to have the policy committee examine possible code revisions; trustees said further legal advice may be sought and that any disciplinary steps would be handled consistent with policy and law.
