On 4/30/2026, Seattle University announced that one of its commencement speakers for the undergraduate ceremony on 6/14/2026 is Robert Paylor. Graduating students, who did not know who he is, looked into him and his following on social media. While he has an inspirational back story that aligns with Jesuit values, upon further inspection, Paylor actively follows figures such as Donald Trump, Charlie Kirk, Tucker Carlson, and an account called the AI Bible (See Pope Leo’s stance). 

As we know, Charlie Kirk has made racist and sexist comments in the past, as have Tucker Carlson and Donald Trump. Trump has been waging war against transgender people, Hispanic, and Latin communities with the use of ICE since the start of his term, not to mention he is a convicted rapist. While politics most likely will not be the focus of the commencement speech, overlooking who this speaker aligns himself with on social media shows that the university finds it ok to align themselves with someone who the student body finds harmful. 

As the graduating class of 2026, we wish for the university to either replace or remove the commencement speaker altogether; and to create a system where the university is transparent with its students and allow them to use their shared governance in picking the commencement speaker. This could include 1) group of students helping the board of trustees pick the commencement speaker, 2) a poll sent to the seniors choosing out of the pool of speakers the administration chooses (As UC Berkeley does), or 3) graduating students submit a single list of 10 personalities they'd like to hear at commencement (Dillard University New Orleans). Even professors could speak or suggest commencement speakers. 

We should be leaders for a "just and humane world", standing up for a diverse world better for the whole person. We will help redirect Seattle University to its vision, being “one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world,” with the values listed on its website that seek putting students first, excellence achieved through diversity, a concern for justice, responsible leaders for a common good, and the Jesuit ethos and discernment. SU's mission statement: https://www.seattleu.edu/who-we-are/mission-vision-values/