The two undergraduate seniors whose diplomas were initially held for their presence at a pro-Palestine disruption of a Reunions speech by University President Christopher Eisgruber ’83 received their degrees on June 6.
Khari Franklin ’24 and Jordan Johnson ’24, two prominent Black members of the Class of 2024, were told less than 24 hours before Commencement on May 28 that their degrees would be held pending a disciplinary investigation. The investigation into their actions has since closed.
“I obviously had known the whole time that there was no tenable reason why I should not have had [my degree] at Commencement,” Franklin said in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “I’m glad that my family can be at ease with all this.”
Both Franklin and Johnson were still permitted to attend Commencement, but Johnson and his family chose not to go.
“I think for [my parents], it was like the school kind of turned their back on me,” Johnson said. “I don’t think my family wants anything to do with the school.”
The University opened a disciplinary investigation into the two seniors after Eisgruber’s annual Reunions address. At the May 25 event at Richardson Auditorium, approximately two dozen pro-Palestine protesters sitting in the front row silently raised their hands, painted in red. After several minutes, the protesters began chanting and walked out of the auditorium.
But the University’s reasons for opening a disciplinary investigation against Franklin and Johnson remain unclear. Video footage reviewed by the ‘Prince’ shows that neither participated in the hand-raising and that they both left Richardson once the disruption began, while at least one other member of the Class of 2024 visibly participated.
At least one other current undergraduate student is still under disciplinary investigation related to the protest at Richardson.
Both Franklin and Johnson told the ‘Prince’ that they did not participate in any of the other parts of the protest inside the auditorium, which included two banner drops and the placement of speakers under seats in the orchestra level.
“I can't speculate as to why the University would have done this,” Franklin said. “I can’t imagine a logical reason why it happened.”
Johnson told the ‘Prince’ that he participated in an interview with an investigator on June 5. “It was very clear about five minutes in, after like, two questions, that this was a waste of time,” he said.
The following day, he received an email notifying him that the University had decided not to continue the disciplinary proceeding.
Johnson, the former president of the Black Student Union (BSU), noted that his family expressed disappointment on his behalf given that he “had done a lot for, presumably, the people would have gotten [him] in trouble.”
“I think they assumed we were involved,” he said. “Which is why I think it was a surprise to the investigator when I was like, ‘I literally have no idea what you’re talking about.’”
“It’s a shame,” he added.
Other universities have also withheld degrees from students for their involvement in encampments and other pro-Palestine activism. In April, Vanderbilt expelled three students for participating in a sit-in inside a campus building. Harvard has withheld the degrees of 13 undergraduate students for at least a year over their involvement in the encampment in Harvard Yard.
In an email to the ‘Prince,’ University Spokesperson Jennifer Morrill wrote, “We continue to follow our disciplinary process with regard to the May 25 incident at Richardson.” Morrill declined to answer why Franklin and Johnson were singled out as subjects of University investigations.
Miriam Waldvogel is an associate News editor and the investigations editor for the ‘Prince.’ She is from Stockton, Calif. and often covers campus activism and University accountability.
Head News editor Annie Rupertus contributed reporting.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
Read More
Trenton Arts founder, manager departs after nine years, peers reflect
Jake MillerLou Chen ’19 is stepping down from his positions as founding director of the Trenton Youth Orchestra and manager of Trenton Arts at Princeton. The ‘Prince’ spoke with him to learn about what lies ahead for these programs.
Lou Chen ’19 is stepping down from his positions as founding director of the Trenton Youth Orchestra and manager of Trenton Arts at Princeton. The ‘Prince’ spoke with him to learn about what lies ahead for these programs.
‘They have no clue what Princeton is’: International students reflect on barriers to applying
Jingquan Tao and Sastha TripathiThe number of international students at Princeton has grown in recent years, but struggles with the American application process and accessibility to elite universities remains. The ‘Prince’ interviewed international students, who shared their application difficulties and encouraged the University to expand diversify international recruitment efforts.
The number of international students at Princeton has grown in recent years, but struggles with the American application process and accessibility to elite universities remains. The ‘Prince’ interviewed international students, who shared their application difficulties and encouraged the University to expand diversify international recruitment efforts.
UMatter discontinues bus due to low ridership
Hannah GabelnickThe UMatter Bus, a nightly bus service for students from Prospect Avenue to their dorms on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, has been discontinued on Princeton’s campus due to low ridership. The service will be partially replaced by the TigerTransit N5 and N6 routes, which began operating this academic year.
The UMatter Bus, a nightly bus service for students from Prospect Avenue to their dorms on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, has been discontinued on Princeton’s campus due to low ridership. The service will be partially replaced by the TigerTransit N5 and N6 routes, which began operating this academic year.
