400 Graduating Students At Stanford's 133rd Commenced Walked Out--Very Small Percentage Of Those Receiving Degrees

 

Stanford University’s motto is “The Wind of Freedom Blows”
With anti-Israeli protests in full bloom over the Hamas Israeli war across the nation with the seeds of violence now being sowed
At Stanford the White Plaza Pro Palestinian encampment was removed as were the band of students who occupied the Stanford President’s office and were arrested and led away
Mounting concern that the 133^rd Commencement at Stanford to be held on Father’s Day
Would be disrupted by violence by the pro-Palestinian protestors morphing into rioters on display
More campus police and sheriff’s deputies were present and several large security officers dressed like undergrads stood in front of the platform facing the student chairs to keep protestors wanting to charge the platform away
At the Sunken Diamond Current and Emeritus Trustees donned academic robes and hats to lead faculty and administrators onto a platform above the field
Before those graduating students in formation marched onto the field to face the security personnel acting as a shield
As the Stanford President was welcoming the graduates and their  parents, relatives and friends a cry was heard—“Stand Up!”
Not a sign for all manner of violence and disturbance to erupt
But the signal for some 400 students some displaying Palestinian flags and wearing  keffiyehs to walk out
Not sure what if any pressure or threats were present like withholding degrees if violence occurred
But a joyous Commencement along with an astute address by Melinda Gates was insured
And true to tradition the graduates stood and turned to face the large numbers in the stadium seats
To thank them soundly for their help and aid to be culminated after 4 years of hard work by a Stanford degree to receipt
Gates advised the graduates to be open to transition from the familiar to the new challenging path
With three bits of advice on how to successfully the transition steps craft
When you leave the familiar shed the tendency go from one familiar point to the other
Rather take the time in the unfamiliar to see what better things it has to offer
Find someone you trust to help you through your transitions and do your part to pass on what you have learned
And lastly she advised graduates to build a web of deserved trust that by actions you will have earned
A network of persons that you can always disagree on issues large and small
But little if anything will get done if you isolate from those you disagree with and build a wall
The 133^rd Commencement for this Emeritus Trustee proved an addendum to the motto to sow
“The Winds of Peaceful Protest allow the Winds of Freedom to grow”
© 6/19/2024 Michael P. Ridley aka The Alaskanpoet