SARASOTA, Fla. — The New College of Florida is moving forward on disciplinary action against a group of student protestors who booed a commencement speaker at this year's graduation ceremony, according to a report from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
The incident occurred on May 17 when students in support of Palestine reportedly began shouting boos and expletives at commencement speaker Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade.
The school filed conduct violation complaints related to the school's code of conduct against five students, New College of Florida said in a released statement.
According to the Tribune, college president Richard Corcoran, who previously served as the Florida Department of Education secretary, said the protestors could have their degrees withheld or be expelled if they don't apologize.
Corcoran addressed the incident in an op-ed with the Wall Street Journal.
"That students intermittently disrupted the proceedings was a disheartening reflection of the prevailing intolerance for diverse viewpoints in today’s society," Corcoran said in the op-ed. "But that illiberal attitude hasn’t and won’t rule New College."
Corcoran went on to state that Ricketts "remained composed" as he was booed, but could be heard saying to the president, "I hate it, but they really don't care what I have to say," according to the op-ed.
The New College of Florida says due process is ensured to all students "with their constitutional rights and judicial precedent."
"We support and protect the right of free speech while resolutely insisting upon civil discourse," the school stated online. "Disruptive activities by a few individuals at a ceremonial event attended by hundreds is not representative of either of these principles."
