Updated: May 23, 2025, at 7:40 p.m.
GW banned the Columbian College of Arts & Sciences student graduation speaker from all campuses and University-sponsored events after she used her speech to call for divestment from companies tied to Israel, according to a University statement updated Monday.
Officials barred Cecilia Culver, the student speaker during CCAS’ first graduation ceremony on Saturday, from GW and are reviewing her conduct after she used her speech to criticize the University for refusing to divest from companies tied to Israel and disciplining pro-Palestinian protesters. The announcement comes as community members circulate messages to University officials, both condemning and supporting Culver’s speech.
Culver graduated from the University in December and received her degree, making her no longer a student at the time of her speech, according to Monday’s update.
Culver did not return a request for comment.
Culver during Saturday’s speech said the University has “repressed” community members who had the “courage” to point out the “blood” on officials’ hands, rather than engaging in negotiations with students to divest from Israel. She called on graduates to withhold donations from the University until officials disclose all financial investments and divest from companies tied to Israel.
“I am ashamed to know my tuition is being used to fund this genocide,” she said during her speech.
The release states that Culver’s actions were “inappropriate and dishonest” as she had submitted and rehearsed a “very different” speech than the one she delivered at the ceremony.
“We are conducting a thorough review of the incident, and will take appropriate accountability actions,” the release states.
University spokesperson Kathy Fackelmann said Saturday that the University was investigating whether she violated the University’s events protocol or Student Code of Conduct.
Over 650 community members sent a letter to GW and CCAS leadership Tuesday urging them to rescind Culver’s diploma until she issues a public apology, retracts her statements from the speech and acknowledges the “anti-Semitic nature and inappropriateness” of her comments. The letter states Culver used her speech to “incite hatred” in an “inflammatory and spurious politicized” speech.
The letter also calls for CCAS Associate Dean for Academic Innovation Kavita Daiya to apologize for “legitimizing” and “appearing to support” Culver’s statements. After Culver’s speech during the ceremony, Daiya said CCAS represents a variety of viewpoints and thanked Culver for sharing hers.
Daiya’s GW profile is no longer accessible via the CCAS Administration page, the Department of English faculty page and the Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Program website as of Tuesday. Daiya is also no longer listed on the MyGW Directory, though the reason is not immediately clear.
Daiya did not return a request for comment. A University spokesperson declined to comment why Daiya’s profile and directory entry are no longer available.
“This is a defining moment, and the University must take this opportunity to redefine itself,” the letter reads. “We would like to trust that GW will make the right choice.”
GW Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine said in an Instagram post Monday that the University continues to “double down” on their investigation of Culver, despite threats to her increasing. The post calls for people to email a pre-drafted message to GW and CCAS administration asking them to stand up for academic freedom and the right to speak about Palestine.
“Ms. Culver is a stellar example of the type of student GW should seek to cultivate,” the draft email reads. “GW must uphold its duty to protect her—a duty it owes to all students—rather than harm her for her speech.”
This post was updated to reflect the following:
This post was updated to include that a University spokesperson declined to comment on the status of Daiya’s profile page and directory entry.
