The hallowed grounds of Tercentenary Theatre, a traditional crucible for academic culmination, witnessed the conclusion of Harvard University's morning Commencement proceedings, a ritualistic farewell to the graduating Class of 2025. However, the customary joy and anticipatory excitement were interwoven with a palpable layer of unease, a reflection of the turbulent political landscape that had cast a long shadow over the students' final year. As graduates dispersed to their respective residential Houses for the intimate diploma ceremonies, a complex tapestry of emotions unfolded – the bittersweet pang of parting, juxtaposed with the disquieting awareness of a world beyond Harvard's gates marked by significant political strife.
The specter of the Trump administration's adversarial stance towards Harvard loomed large over the Commencement affairs. A mere days prior, the administration had issued a stark pronouncement: the revocation of Harvard's authority to host international students. This unprecedented threat, perceived as a direct assault on the university's core values of global inclusivity and academic freedom, permeated the very fabric of the graduation events.
In a powerful keynote address delivered during the morning convocation, Stanford professor Abraham Verghese did not shy away from directly addressing the contentious issue. His eloquent lambasting of the Trump administration's attacks resonated deeply with the graduating undergraduates, many of whom poignantly displayed white flowers pinned to their regalia, a silent yet potent symbol of solidarity with their international peers. The gravity of the situation was further underscored by the nearly minute-long standing ovation accorded to Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 as he ascended the stage, a clear demonstration of the university community's unified stance against external pressures.
The pervasive political climate seeped into the more personal House ceremonies as well, transforming these traditionally celebratory events into moments of shared acknowledgment of the federal government's overt threats to the institution. At the Dunster House ceremony, Faculty Dean Sean D. Kelly directly addressed the elephant in the room, stating with resolute conviction that “Harvard is making news for all the right reasons.” His subsequent announcement that a Boston judge had, just an hour prior, placed an injunction on the Trump administration’s plan to exclude international students, was met with a resounding wave of cheers from the assembled graduates and faculty – a collective exhalation of relief amidst the ongoing uncertainty. Kelly's concluding remark, “I hope that you’re as proud to be part of this institution at this point in history as I am,” encapsulated the prevailing sentiment of defiance and solidarity.
The judge’s decision to extend Harvard’s temporary restraining order, while not yet a definitive ruling on the University’s request for a preliminary injunction, sent palpable ripples of relief throughout the Commencement proceedings. However, this temporary reprieve did little to fully assuage the underlying anxiety, as the Trump administration's continued threats left the status of international students hanging precariously in the balance.
Sky D. Jung ’25, a resident of Eliot House, eloquently captured the prevailing sentiment, describing the act of graduating as “incredibly surreal,” particularly against the backdrop of “an undercurrent of fear or anxiety about what is going to happen.” Fellow Eliot resident Lily B. Roberts ’25 echoed this sentiment, viewing the ruling to block the revocation of Harvard’s ability to enroll international students as a “really satisfying way” to push back against the administration, serving as a powerful call-to-action for her graduating cohort. “To have graduated amidst all of this, it’s like ‘Yeah, we need to be the ones to make the change,’” Roberts asserted, highlighting a sense of responsibility and empowerment born from adversity.
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Beyond the immediate political turmoil, the graduation ceremonies also served as poignant moments of reflection as students stood on the precipice of their lives beyond the familiar embrace of Harvard’s gates. At Kirkland House’s graduation ceremony, convened in the House’s intimate courtyard, Faculty Dean and incoming Harvard College Dean David J. Deming eloquently acknowledged the complex tapestry of emotions that graduation invariably brings. For Deming, who was preparing to transition from his House deanship to his College-wide role on July 1, this year’s ceremony carried an added layer of bittersweet sentiment. “Every year, commencement brings us joy — tinged with a little bit of sadness,” Deming remarked, his voice tinged with emotion. “Those feelings are especially mixed this year, at least for me, because you are the last Harvard class — Kirkland class — that we will have the honor of sending off with Harvard diplomas in hand.” His heartfelt “Congratulations, Class of 2025,” delivered with tears welling in his eyes, resonated deeply with the graduating students.
Victoria Wijerathnayapa ’25, a resident of Eliot House, articulated the dichotomy of emotions felt by many, stating that she was “really nervous, but also glad” to embark on this new chapter. “It’s kind of bittersweet because I know this will be the last time I am able to live with my friends at Harvard together,” she poignantly added, underscoring the profound sense of community fostered within the House system.
Kirkland House resident Subul Ahmad ’25 expressed profound gratitude for the intimate setting of her House diploma ceremony. “These are the people who have really watched me grow,” Ahmad reflected. “They’ve seen the dining hall breakdowns, but they’ve also been there for the happy times.” Her heartfelt sentiment encapsulated the unique bond forged within Harvard’s residential Houses, concluding, “At Harvard, we’re so lucky your House becomes your family. So it’s like you started with your family, you’re ending with your family.”
Kate E. Vandermel ’25, also a resident of Eliot House, offered a hopeful perspective, asserting that the time her peers spent at Harvard had “equipped us to handle the next chapter of our lives.” Reflecting on the challenges faced during their undergraduate years, she stated, “It’s been a very tumultuous four years. Being able to end and begin this new chapter is really a testament to how much our class has been able to do.”
The Commencement ceremonies for Harvard’s Class of 2025 were thus imbued with a unique significance. They were not merely a formal conferral of degrees, but a powerful testament to the resilience, solidarity, and unwavering spirit of a graduating class facing both the personal milestone of graduation and the broader anxieties of a politically charged world. As they step out from Harvard’s hallowed gates, this cohort carries with them not only the weight of their prestigious education but also the indelible mark of a tumultuous era, poised, as one graduate aptly noted, to be the agents of change the future demands.
