University 'deeply sorry' for mispronouncing students' names at graduation: 'Unfortunate'

Publish date: 2024-08-10

PHILADELPHIA (TND) — Thomas Jefferson University apologized Friday for mispronouncing nursing graduates' names during its commencement ceremony.

The speaker at the Jefferson College of Nursing incorrectly pronounced several names, including “Thomas,” “Sarah,” “Molly” and “Elizabeth,” as graduates walked across the stage on Thursday.

The leadership and faculty of Thomas Jefferson University extend our sincerest apologies for the mispronunciations of the names of several of our graduating nursing students during our recent commencement ceremony,” the school said.

The school added that the "ceremony is a celebration of the significant achievements of our students, and each graduate deserves to have their name honored correctly on this pivotal day.”

The speaker purportedly apologized during the ceremony, claiming the phonetic spellings on her cards caused her to mispronounce the names.

We also recognize that commencement is not only a milestone for our students but also a deeply important day for their families and loved ones who have supported them throughout their educational journey,” the university said. “This unfortunate error does not reflect the immense respect we have for our graduates and the value we place on their hard-earned accomplishments.”

Thomas Jefferson’s ceremony was one of several that made headlines as other colleges ended academic years marked by pro-Palestine protests.

At Duke University, dozens of graduates walked out of their ceremony Sunday as Jerry Seinfeld took the stage to deliver his commencement address. Some attendees booed and chanted pro-Palestinian chants. Seinfeld has supported Israel during its war against Hamas terrorists.

On Saturday, Virginia Commonwealth University graduates left their commencement ceremony as Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin delivered his speech. The students marched on the school’s campus with pro-Palestinian cheers.

Gov. Youngkin has criticized student protests against their schools’ investments in companies perceived as helping Israel in its war, telling CNN last month he would oppose any campus encampments.

“I have been working with our attorney general, Jason Miyares, our university presidents, law enforcement at the state, local and campus level, to make sure if there are protests, they are peaceful,” he said. “We will protect the ability to peacefully express yourself, but we’re not going to have the kind of hate speech and intimidation that we’re seeing across the country.”

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