AIBU to say that graduation ceremonies are not the place to make political statements?

Did she say every single student unfurled a Palestinian flag? Clearly her own daughter at least did not.

You're determined to write off the activism of these students as a trendy bandwagon, because it allows you to be condescending and dismissive without engaging with the cause in any meaningful way. That's fine - do what suits you. You aren't their target audience anyway, and they don't care what you think.

Several universities have already commenced divestment from Israel in response to pressure from staff and students, including political protest. In light of that, I promise these students aren't worried about what some small-minded Pearl clutcher on mumsnet thinks about their actions.

Honestly it's FAR more upetting for anyone with a shred of decency that people like you are happy to watch the atocities Israel are committing and to think there is ANY moment that is inappropriate to speak out about it.

Love this. The suggestion that if you're pissed off about random virtue signalling on your child's special day that you are happy about what is happening in Gaza. Absolute smug self-righteousness of it all.

Of course not, because they’re committing genocide. But even if some people aren’t personally ok with it, isn’t that the whole point of political protest - to make people question how comfortable they are with something?

Did the OP say that other flags were unfurled? Other causes supported?

Revoked?! How ridiculous. ‘Let’s crush these inquiring minds we’ve just helped create?’ Graduates are the exact people who should be heading out to change the world. Student protest is nothing new and protest is not about making people feel comfortable.

I can't think why anyone might feel uncomfortable when someone reminds them that genocide is being perpetrated.

Unless they agree with it happening, or don't care.

So you’d be ok if other students unfurled the Israeli flag?

My understanding is that within the U.K. economy about 20-25% of jobs can only be done by graduates. There’s a further similar proportion that are more often, but not exclusively, done by graduates, leaving about 55% of jobs in which a degree is neither a requirement nor a direct advantage. This indicates that the job market does not support all graduates being in graduate employment.

You’d be quite wrong then: https://www.varsity.co.uk/news/29587

You're right. God forbid the Church be vocally opposed to genocide.

Did you see the videos depicting the atrocities committed on 7/10 by Palestinians? No-one is a winner here - both sides are / have suffered atrocities.

Where are you getting the idea that everyone did this?

A lot of universities also use cathedrals, which makes it even more inappropriate. Saying that, I sometimes think the CofE under Welby has become more about promoting whatever the latest bandwagon agenda is than anything else. I find virtue signaling so irksome.

If you’re going to put numbers in, make sure they’re accurate.
This is from students who graduated in 2023.
83% of graduates were in employment or unpaid work, the majority of which (61%) were in full time employment, an increase of 5 percentage points compared to 2018–19. Of these, 11% were in part-time employment, and 10% a combination of employment and further study. A further 6% were in further study.

The proportion of graduates that were unemployed (5%) was the same as those that graduated in 2021 and 1 percentage point lower than in 2019

What this data doesn't say is what types of jobs those graduates were employed in.

https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/insights-and-analysis/what-did-graduates-do-after-higher-0

97% of graduates have jobs within 15 months of graduation, so whatever you think of their politics you are entirely wrong about their prospects.

Well what are you upset about then? Honestly it's FAR more upetting for anyone with a shred of decency that people like you are happy to watch the atocities Israel are committing and to think there is ANY moment that is inappropriate to speak out about it.

Haven't you seen the numerous videos of parents carrying the bloodsoaked bodies of their innocent children through the streets? Didn't you see the 6 year old girl trapped in a car with her dead family, begging for help, before being delibately shot to pieces by Israeli soldiers? Don't you see the emaciated children dying slow, painful deaths because they've been delivately starved by Israel?

Universities have always been places where students bravely make political stands and speak out against injustice, cruelty, and evil. This has been the case throughout history - think of the White Rose movement, the students who were executed for speaking out against the nazis in German universities, or think about the anti-Vietnam war protests in the US. These students are intelligent, brave and on the right side of history.

If it slightly spoiled your day then you need to give yourself a serious talking to. There are a lot of mothers in Gaza who are spending today in unimaginable grief, mourning the horrific death of their child, while you're safe in the UK enjoying your child's graduation. It really makes me sick that you have the audacity to complain about this.

These kind of people do more harm than good to the Palestinian people

It's completely unacceptable. Graduation is about academic achievement not pointless virtue signalling. I bet they won't have considered the hostages who didn't get to finish their degrees.

Yesterday 21:03

It takes significantly longer to get your flag out, unfurl it, hold it up and stand there awaiting additional applause than the normal process. Imagine if they all did that! So yes, selfish.

Not as bad as the woman who wanted to take her toddler on stage with her. She’d brought him a cap and gown.

So what if an Israeli flag was unfurled for remembrance of the victims of October 7th and as signal to release hostages? What would the reaction of fellow students and parents be?

The naive virtue signalling support of a people governed by a heinous Islamist terrorist group is worrying and shows a distinct lack of critical thinking. Students should be debating ideas not rsorting to sloganeering.

You want to get one of them and get them to see if they can propose a roadmap to a solution to one of the most intractable conflicts in history.