Harvard President Gets Minute-Long Ovation for Welcoming Intl Students

During the 374th Commencement ceremony, Harvard University President Alan Garber received a warm standing ovation as he welcomed graduates “from down the street, across the country, and around the globe,” prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience.

“All around the globe — just as it should be,” he added, as the applause echoed for nearly a minute, especially for the international students celebrating their achievements with family members despite challenges posed by the Trump administration concerning immigration policies.

One graduate expressed to AFP that the ovation reflected the community’s pride and support.

As the graduates celebrated, a federal judge decided to extend a ruling that prevents Trump’s administration from revoking Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students, a significant win for the prestigious institution amid ongoing legal disputes with the government.

US District Judge Allison Burroughs in Boston stated her plans to issue a preliminary injunction just days after initially granting Harvard a temporary block against the administration’s actions.

Uzma Farheen, an Indian graduate with a Master’s in Public Health, described the day as one filled with “love for the global community.” She remarked, “We stand united to powerfully embody what Harvard represents — truth, integrity, and inclusion,” in her comments to AFP.

The Trump administration has launched multiple attacks on Harvard, including freezing billions in grants and other forms of funding, proposing to eliminate its tax-exempt status, and investigating potential discrimination against white, Asian, male, or straight employees.

President Garber acknowledged existing issues, such as anti-Semitism on campus, and reiterated the university’s commitment to ensuring all perspectives are welcomed and protected.

Garber has spearheaded the legal resistance within US higher education after the Trump administration targeted elite universities like Columbia, which made extensive concessions to regain $400 million in federal funding.