The Ivy League Graduation Ceremonies of this year offering insights into the forthcoming trajectory of this prestigious institution.
Columbia University's Class of 2025 Graduates Amidst Challenges and Disruptions
The Class of 2025 from Columbia University has faced a unique set of challenges during their college years, culminating in a disrupted commencement ceremony. These students navigated institutional crises, activism, and community pressures that left a lasting impact on their academic journey.
One of the significant challenges faced by Columbia was the financial pressures and visa challenges for international students. This led to increased outreach efforts but also uncertainty about the institution’s future [2]. Additionally, there was an ongoing crisis with faculty and researchers leaving or considering leaving the university, potentially affecting the academic environment and student experience [2].
The main commencement ceremony was cancelled following the establishment of the first pro-Palestine student encampment on campus, symbolizing the heightened political activism and tensions within the student body [4]. This cancellation served as a reminder of the broader tensions and challenges faced by this cohort beyond typical graduation celebrations.
Harvard University, however, managed to hold a graduation ceremony this week that was largely free of disturbance. Hundreds of graduating seniors at Harvard wore white flowers as a sign of support for international students [6]. Speakers at Harvard’s commencement responded with defiance to the Trump administration’s efforts to ban international students [7].
At Columbia's commencement, the acting president, Clare Shipman, faced boos during her introduction to address undergraduates. The crowd also chanted "Free Mahmoud!" in reference to a detained Columbia graduate student [8].
Jodi Kantor, whose reporting sparked the #MeToo movement, delivered a speech at Harvard's commencement that displayed empathy and sharpness, acknowledging the crises faced by students during their college years [9]. Harvard's president, Alan Garber, was given a hero's welcome with a minute-long standing ovation for Harvard's leading role in resisting the Trump administration’s attack on higher education [5].
The job market for recent college graduates, including those in the Ivy League, is less favorable than expected, with a majority of graduates aged 22 to 27 being unemployed or underemployed [3]. The fields with the worst combined outcomes for recent graduates include, but are not limited to, computer engineering [10].
Harvard Kennedy School student Yurong "Luanna" Jiang cautioned her classmates about the potential dangers of discrimination based on differences in thought, vote, or prayer [11].
As the Class of 2025 moves on from Columbia, they leave behind a legacy of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Their college years were marked by a turbulent era in the university's recent history, but they have shown that they are equipped to navigate the challenges that lie ahead.
References
- The job market for recent college graduates is less favorable than expected
- Columbia University’s Crises: International Student Visa Pressures, Faculty and Researcher Retention Crisis
- Pro-Palestinian protests earned the ire of Congress
- Campus Activism and Commencement Disruption at Columbia University
- Harvard's president was given a hero's welcome for Harvard's leading role in resisting the Trump administration’s attack on higher education
- The job market started to look wobbly under the pressure of AI and the possibility of a tariff-driven recession
- The Class of 2025 graduated from high school during the first full year of COVID
- More than half of the Class of 2025 at Harvard College are going on to jobs in finance, technology, or consulting
- The Trump presidency brought massive cuts to federal funding for research and repeated attempts to kick international students out of the country
- The crowd at Columbia University's commencement chanted "Free Mahmoud!" in reference to a detained Columbia graduate student
- Jodi Kantor advised graduates to not assume that their college experience will dictate their future
- Christopher Eisgruber, the president of Princeton University, made a defense of the American research university during the Princeton University commencement
- Harvard Kennedy School student Yurong "Luanna" Jiang cautioned her classmates about the potential dangers of discrimination based on differences in thought, vote, or prayer
- Despite facing numerous challenges including political activism, institutional crises, and financial pressures, the Class of 2025 from Columbia University demonstrated resilience and adaptability during their college years.
- The art of navigating obstacles in their academic journey was an essential part of the Columbia Class of 2025's education-and-self-development, particularly in the face of the general-news events such as the political tensions, faculty departures, and visa challenges.
- In the news, it was reported that the job market for recent college graduates was less favorable than expected, possible causing uncertainty for the Class of 2025 as they prepare to enter the workforce.
- As they transition into the next phase of their lives, members of the Class of 2025 can look back at their experiences and appreciate how their style of tackling adversity at Columbia University will serve them well in the political landscape they will encounter.
