OPINION: Let Staten Island’s CSI Students Speak! Rally To Protest Pre-Recording Announcement For Valedictorian’s Speech – First Time
Editor’s note: The below copy was submitted to the Staten Islander News Organization by the Student Coalition at the College of Staten Island.
The text, verbatim:
Let the Students Speak! Free Speech Rally at the College of Staten Island
College of Staten Island protest. Image Credit – Staten Island Coalition
A coalition of College of Staten Island students, staff, faculty and alumni, and their organizations, held a campus RALLY on Tuesday, April 28 at 2:30 PM to demand reinstatement of the college’s decades long tradition of a live, rather than pre-recorded, address by the Valedictorian speaker at the commencement ceremony. President Timothy G. Lynch unilaterally, without even consulting faculty or students, instituted the “pre-recording” order at the 2025 commencement, and has declared his intentions to continue the policy at this May’s ceremony.
“This is censorship!” denounced student organizer Alec Courtney of the Fight to Win Student Worker Coalition. “The pre-recording order is clearly an attempt by the administration to prevent students speaking out and organizing on the important issues of the day, whether it be the genocide in Gaza, the illegal war on Iran, or the attacks on higher education. This cannot stand.”
The attempt to squelch speech by students on the important issues of the day contradicts the College of Staten Island’s own General Educational Goals. These goals include an emphasis on cultivating “Social Responsibility and Civic Engagement,” defined as “civic knowledge and engagement, both local and global; principled participation in activities of personal and public concern; [and] engagement with global issues, including the role of the United States in the world.”
Maya Corda, with the CSI chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, directly connected President Lynch’s order to the broader suppression of first amendment protected rights at CUNY, especially when it comes to Palestine. “The banning of the student commencement address at the CUNY Law school, the firing of four Brooklyn college adjunct faculty, and suppression of protests at CSI’s last two commencements have been aimed at squelching any discussion on the genocide in Gaza. The Palestine exception to free speech is a threat to the rights of all.”
The Professional Staff Congress Academic Freedom Committee has also called, in a letter to CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos and President Timothy Lynch, for reinstatement of a live valedictorian speaker at the CSI graduation. Anthony Alessandri, chair of the Academic Freedom Committee, wrote that “CUNY should be setting a precedent in standing up for the free expression of our students.” He added that the committee is “deeply concerned about the possibility of this policy being applied throughout CUNY.”
The rally began at 2:30 PM in front of building 1A and then was followed by a march to the fountain plaza behind Building 1P where speakers addressed the crowd.
The Free Speech rally is endorsed by the following organizations: Free Speech Movement at CSI, the Fight to Win Student Worker Coalition, Students for Justice in Palestine, Fight to Win at CSI, The CSI Chapter for the Professional Staff Congress.
College of Staten Island Student protest. Image Credit – Student Coalitions
Student protest at CSI. Image Credit – Student Coalitions
Banner Image: College of Staten Island Student protest. Image Credit – Student Coalitions
Here. You can use my speech if you can’t figure out waht to say.
Graduation Speech
Members of the faculty, proud families and friends, and—most importantly—graduates of the Class of 2026:
Today we stand at a threshold. You arrived here with curiosity, trepidation, late-night study sessions, and a mix of certainty and doubt about who you would become. Over the years you learned more than facts and techniques; you learned how to learn, how to fail and try again, how to carry one another forward. Those habits are the true credential you take with you.
Education gives you knowledge, but it also gives you a responsibility: to use what you know to shape a world that still needs better answers. The problems ahead—social, environmental, technological—won’t be solved by credentials alone. They will be solved by people who listen, who combine imagination with discipline, and who choose collaboration over easy certainty.
Remember three practical truths as you move forward:
Keep curiosity as your compass. Curiosity opens doors you didn’t know existed. Ask better questions than everyone else and then follow where the answers lead.
Treat failure as tuition, not fate. Every setback you experienced was a curriculum in disguise: a lesson in humility, resilience, and creative adaptation. The graduates who change the world are the ones who persist after the first “no.”
Invest in people. Technical skill gets you started; human connection sustains progress. Build teams, mentor others, and measure success by the difference you make in other people’s lives.
You will not follow a single script. Some of you will invent companies; others will teach, heal, research, create, serve, or raise families. Some careers will zig and zag in ways you cannot foresee. That’s good—embrace the meandering. A life well lived is a compound of purpose, curiosity, and kindness.
As you go, bring integrity with you. Speak honestly, act ethically, and own your mistakes. Those choices are the architecture of trust—the one currency that never devalues.
Finally, keep hope as an active choice. Hope isn’t passive optimism; it’s the decision to show up and do the work when results are uncertain. When you pair hope with effort, you create possibilities that didn’t exist before.
Graduates, you leave this place not finished, but ready. Ready to build, to care, to question, and to lead. Take pride in how far you’ve come, and bring your best to what comes next.
Congratulations, Class of 2026—go build something better.
Very clearly from the protest signs the CUNY is right to stop a live speech and because you know it will be used to get all into the Free Palestine thing. I am sick and tired of turning everywhere and hearing about this from one side or the other. I am so sorry people in the desert can’t ply nice but leave me out of it. Morals are not easy. Everyone wants to be right. But everyone can’t really be right.
Some of those protesters look like they could use some classes in personal hygiene. CSI was always a hotbed of Commies and anti-Israel folks. I was on campus way back and they’d hand me literature. I thought a girl was interested in me I met at CSI but then she handed me some pamphlets about the plight of the worker and about Israel.
I’m guessing you’re a dental hygienist, maybe? Personal stylist?
My take: Politics is a dead end. It gets you nowhere except on a “list”.
All this holding signs and chanting. Always the same. How does that change anything?
It’s a “lifestyle” of these ppl. To each his own. Like, I don’t even care. Not saying don’t do it. Just saying lots of more fun lives you could have chosen. If you want to get on a No Fly list go out and run with these lunatics. I am a conservative S-tanist, BTW.
Don’t say the Devil made me do it. What a cop-out. You X-ians make me laugh. Cheaters and liars in politics. Man up, already! I think the Catholic Pope not a hypocrite. That woman crawling for dollars. Dunno ’bout that woman. SMH But I was raised as a Protestant, so I am not really ever going to be a Pope fan. Or think born-agains are anything but out there.
Plus,I already have my…way.
Be a man. Or a woman. I mean step up and face who you are.
“Some of those protesters look like they could use some classes in personal hygiene.”
Let’s see what you look like. Make an avatar of who you really are, i double dare you! haha I am sure you are no bargain. Just guessing.
Yeah…no.
Take your show somewhere else. Let the graduates have their day.
Besides there are a lot of Jews and that is offensive to them. How would you guys like if they turned the event into an October 7th Israeli Memorial Day? You would hate it. Admit it.
So just have fun and party together. Black and white. Jews and Muslims. At least be united on celebrating your achievements. Leave the politics off the table for one day at least.
The most intelligent comment I’ve read so far.
While I agree that they have the right to PROTEST this policy at CSI, I wholeheartedly agree with the campus administrators for their choice of a canned speech. I actually feel like a better speech can
The graduation is not the venue for grandstanding. I don’t care about if you’re pro-Palestine, pro-Israel, pro-vegetarian, I don’t care. Save the Jesus talk,too. Students graduating should focus on their world.
When I was at CUNY, they were always trying to take over the campus and the classroom dialogue with Palestine. It does not have a place at a graduation ceremony. nor in a class unless it’s Middle East Studies. Hijacking the dialogue is not right. Families just want to celebrate. many are form their own diasporas. Another time, Another place.
Talk about your time at CUNY. Stop ruining it for everyone.
While the world is filled with many pressing issues, students should have a more positive attitude about graduation.
Nah this is bullsh*t. Stop taking over public spaces for your private agendas.
Every student there has their grievances. Everyone has their cause they support.
Leave it about the achievement of all the graduates who used their time the to get an education not become a propagandist for shady groups.
Animal Welfare, Ocean Conservation, Adult Literacy Programs, Habitat for Humanity, Youth Mentorship, Reforestation, Food Bank Logistics, Clean Water Access, Sustainable Agriculture, Mental Health Advocacy, Elderly Care & Loneliness, Wildlife Rehabilitation, STEM Education for Kids, Medical Research Funding, Pet Foster Care, Parks & Recreation Maintenance, Arts & Music Education, Disaster Relief Preparedness, Homeless Shelter Support, Financial Literacy Training, National Park Conservation, Rare Disease Awareness, Library Support Services, Community Gardening, Adaptive Sports Programs.
Those are some good choices. Non-political, too.
Well I don’t see that protesting a war means you automatically are playing into the hands of/ or are employed by a shady group.
I get that they’re out there but we as Americans have the right to protest.Not every protestor has the same views.
These kids are definitely not part of that Left wing network. How do i know?
Look at the quality of the signs. While I think you guys are brave, I disagree and think that the topics like that should be off-limits ub they should trust the keynote speaker to not go there.
I agree. Just trust them as adults to keep it non-politic. No need for a recording.
Here is my one:
Parody Graduation Speech — Pre-recorded & Pre-approved (CUNY)
Members of the faculty, beloved families, and graduates of CUNY who have been pre-cleared to celebrate:
Today’s remarks have been thoroughly vetted, edited, and reformatted into a neutral, uplifting tone. Any spontaneous enthusiasm you heard in earlier drafts has been removed to comply with our enthusiastic-but-not-excessive guidelines. Please enjoy this officially sanctioned moment.
Let us begin with applause of appropriate duration (30 seconds; no more than 45). Thank you. Your controlled applause was lovely.
Graduates, you have reached this milestone after years of dedicated study, nights of caffeinated focus, and countless group projects where three people carried the load and one person provided spirited optimism. We salute the spirit—measured and within a 10% variance—that made this day possible.
As you leave CUNY, remember three carefully curated takeaways:
Express yourself—within pre-approved channels. Spontaneous expression has been replaced by curated statements, standardized enthusiasm, and emoji guidelines. If you must cry, please use the institutional-approved tissue dispenser located in the lobby.
Embrace ambiguity—up to a point. Careers will unfold in unpredictable ways, provided those pathways have been listed in the career portal and bookmarked under “Acceptable Outcomes.”
Network politely. Handshakes are permitted. Hugs require written consent forms and a 72-hour processing window.
You learned resilience here—sometimes by powering through a quiz, sometimes by navigating a PDF that refused to download. You learned to ask questions, usually in the Q&A feature, not aloud. You learned leadership, particularly in delegating Zoom responsibilities and muting when appropriate.
Allow me to offer a moment of practical advice, as approved by the committee that approves practical advice. First, when updating your résumé, include measurable achievements such as “Successfully attended 85% of scheduled synchronous meetings” and “Mastered the art of appearing thoughtful on camera.” Second, in interviews, reference transferable skills like “deadline-adjacent productivity” and “strategic caffeine management.” Third, when you encounter bureaucratic friction, respond with the phrase, “Per policy,” and then smile like you mean it.
Some of you worry that the world expects authenticity. Rest assured: authenticity is now available in small, modular portions—certified, non-returnable. Wear it with confidence. For deeper authenticity, please consult the student handbook; Chapter 12, subsection D covers “Authenticity: Approved Expressions.”
To the faculty who guided you: thank you for approving syllabi, providing rubrics, and ensuring every assignment had a clear grading rubric. To the families: your support has been indispensable, especially in providing quiet backgrounds for late-night study sessions and plausible explanations for “group project delays.” To the class of CUNY: you showed up, you logged in, and—most importantly—you clicked “I agree” to all the necessary terms and conditions.
Before I close this pre-approved cadence, a brief reminder: spontaneity void where prohibited. Celebrate within the allocated interval, and please refrain from singing unsanctioned lyrics at the reception. The playlist has been optimized for mood, momentum, and decibel compliance.
In conclusion—approved by Committee A, with concurrence from Subcommittee B—go forth and do two things: be excellent to one another, and when in doubt, submit the form. Congratulations, Class of [INSERT YEAR HERE]. This message will now self-archive.
(End of recorded, pre-approved remarks. Please disconnect gracefully.)
I am totally for the per-recorded speeches. Every last one.
But they should also be able speak live briefly just to balance it out.
And limit the time they can speak live so no one can dominate.
So if they mention this or that it is okay. That is fairer.
This is vile. FREE SPEECH FREE SPEECH
wait…
Those are resistance flags….I see….they are just using the Graduation as a place to spread their views.
Oh no. I am glad with their decision. We need neutrality at graduations.
This is just moral grandstanding. We all know what is going on in the world. There are may wars: Ukraine, Gaza Strip, West Bank, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Yemen, Iran, Pakistan-Afghanistan Border, Sahel Region (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso), Mexico (Cartel Conflict), Ethiopia, Ecuador, Somalia. Why you guys ALWAYS leave out the other conflicts? Why is only one of concern to you? As of May 2026, several other nations are struggling with high levels of cartel-related violence, gang warfare, or organized crime that often rivals traditional military conflict in intensity: Haiti, Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Venezuela, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Nigeria. So why just focus on that one spot?? I really do not know and I’m not insinuating I do know. I am truly curious.
CUNY doesn’t have any obligation to even let a Graduation Speech go on, except for historical and social precedent. So I am really confused. A graduation day speech can’t be anything. I know sometimes they get crazy people like Borat to come and speak but still. I guess it can really be anything at all but there is no legal right to say whatever you want at graduation. There is a time and a place for everything.
I think when people stand up for their causes it means they are active in their community. But when everyone is finally done with the years of studying, shouldn’t that day be special for everyone?
And, of course, it’s sad anyone died on any side in any of those wars. It’s tragic. But people suck.
If I have to miss my afternoon enjoying my beer just to go to a relative’s boring and hot graduation ceremony at C.S.I., you had better not subject me to any political jabbering. I will stand up and heckle you. And not because I don’t think it’s the American Way to protest. I think it is your God Given Right. But not at a graduation ceremony. C’mon. But it will just happen, beyond my control. I’ll heckle anyone who slows down the pace. And that’s even the professors. Keep it moving. None of us really want to be there.
Why not give out water as a silent gesture of goodwill, instead? They all know what you are all about and what you represent, already. So why not make everyone’s time there less grating? I think protesters are wasting their time and working counter to anything they might really think is any sort of “positive change.”
I actually am not a dumb-ass like so many today, and so I appreciate that all the young ones in my family are getting Bachelors and Grad degrees and doing something with themselves. I mean even cops need a degree now. And you want one. Don’t let the TV BS you out of your right to education. Right now CUNY is free. Kids! Listen up! Get a degree!
And, here’s one to remember as you go out the door, fellas and young ladies. No one there is going to think your particular views are any more appealing after you make them all get headaches.
You want to stay ignorant, that is your business. But
You guys sound like a bunch of fascists. Let the graduates say what they choose. When did college become a surveillance state? Free Graduation Speech! Free Graduation Speech! Free Graduation Speech! Free Graduation Speech!