10 | APRIL 4 • 2024 

Below is a letter I sent to Dr. Santo 
J. Ono, president of the University 
of Michigan, on Monday, March 
25.
D

ear President Ono,
I write to you today 
about my experi-
ence from the 101st Honors 
Convocation at 
the University of 
Michigan held at 
Hill Auditorium 
on March 24, 
2024. I write as 
an alumnus of 
the University of 
Michigan (LSA 
’91), as a parent of a member 
of the University of Michigan 
Class of 2024, as the rabbi of 
Congregation Beth Shalom in 
Oak Park, Michigan, and as the 
president of the Michigan Board 
of Rabbis.
My spouse and I were in atten-
dance with our daughter. She 
told us in advance that protests 
were planned for the Honors 
Convocation. She wanted to 
make sure we were aware in 
advance of this possibility. As 
such, I was not surprised when 
the first protesters presented 
themselves as they walked across 
the stage. 
I disagree with much of the 
messaging the protesters present-
ed. However, I respect the value 
of appropriate protest, and this 
did not interrupt the flow of the 
Honors Convocation. I watched 
it understanding that disagree-
ment and conflict over ideas is a 
normal part of our human expe-
rience.

This form of protest brought 
back to me the memory from 
my own graduation from U-M 
in 1991. President George H.W
. 
Bush spoke at graduation. There 
were students who protest-
ed President Bush during his 
address by standing and turning 
their backs to him, some stand-
ing on their chairs, some holding 
signs. The protesters were not 
verbally disruptive. They made 
their protest “heard” by everyone 
in the Big House that day. 
This is not what happened at 
the Honors Convocation. When 
protesters interrupted your 
speech, the verbal violence was 
tangible. They were intent on 
shouting to obscure your voice 
and disrupt an otherwise peace-
ful gathering.
My daughter knew, we knew, I 
am confident the university knew 
of these planned protests. At a 
minimum, the university under-
stood the capacity of students to 
actualize the form of civic disrup-
tion I witnessed. The university 
posted signage in the entrance 
of Hill Auditorium stating the 
behavioral norms for communal 
gathering as outlined in Regents’ 
Ordinance Article XII, Section 
1, of the U-M Standard Practice 
Guide. 
Attendees around me were 
concerned for their safety. They 
were deeply disappointed that 
protesters were allowed to hijack 
the Honors Convocation. It was 
apparent to all that the university 
did not restore order, so they 
got up and left. This behavior 
by the protesters was entirely 
predictable. The University of 

Michigan leadership failed in 
your obligation to respond to the 
verbal violence as expressed in 
Article XII, Section 1.
As Congregation Beth Shalom’s 
rabbi, I am concerned about the 
safety of Jewish students at the 
University of Michigan. I am 
concerned about the physical and 
emotional safety of our students. 
These protesters were not going 
to let any other voice be heard. 
Had I seen security upholding 
the university’s standards, as dis-
played in the entryway, I would 
have felt more comfortable. The 
university’s response was to let 
the protesters win. 
Rabbi Abraham Joshua 
Heschel, when speaking about 
Civil Rights, taught, “In a free 
society few are guilty, but all are 
responsible.
” The protesters at the 
Honors Convocation were guilty 
of verbal violence and disturbing 
the peace. Your administration 
is responsible in the lack of pre-
paredness and acquiescence to 
this form of protest. I am inform-
ing the members of my commu-
nity about the environment that I 
experienced.
The University of Michigan 
has always prided itself on cre-
ating the “Leaders and Best.
” As 
the president of the Michigan 
Board of Rabbis, I interact with 
the best leaders in our commu-
nities. I am deeply concerned 
about the Leaders and Best of 
the University of Michigan. The 
University of Michigan allowed 
shouting longest and loudest to 
become a form of victory. This 
culture is not what I expect from 
the Leaders and Best; this behav-

ior should not be the Michigan 
way.
I am deeply concerned about 
how the University of Michigan 
will handle graduation. You let 
the protesters win at the Honors 
Convocation. What will the 
University of Michigan do to 
uphold its own standards at this 
year’s upcoming graduation? It 
is my family’s plan to attend the 
graduation this year, to celebrate 
our eldest child’s accomplish-
ments as she graduates from the 
University of Michigan. What 
type of environment am I bring-
ing my family into? How will 
families, the alumni community, 
the state of Michigan and the 
world perceive our university if 
the University of Michigan allows 
protesters to hijack graduation?
I am an alumnus of the 
University of Michigan. I am a 
Michigan parent. I am the rabbi 
of a Metropolitan Detroit syna-
gogue. I am the president of the 
Michigan Board of Rabbis. I am 
very concerned about what we 
experienced at the 101st Honors 
Convocation.
Do not acquiesce to this type 
of verbal violence. The University 
of Michigan must allow free 
speech in the form of civil dis-
course. This happened at my 
own graduation in 1991. I, and 
the communities I lead, expect to 
hear your plans for securing the 
upcoming graduation ceremo-
nies so that all voices can express 
their views without allowing pro-
testers to hijack any event. 
I urge you to revisit how the 
University of Michigan students, 
faculty and administration actu-
alize the values of the “Leaders 
and Best.
”
Respectfully,
Rabbi Robert Gamer (LSA 
’91) 

Rabbi Robert Gamer is rabbi at 

Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park 

and president of the Michigan Board of 

Rabbis.

Rabbi Robert 
Gamer

essay

A Letter to U-M President 
on the ‘Hijacking’ of Honors 
Convocation by Protesters

PURELY COMMENTARY

