Peace Be Upon You All, 
 
We seek to begin once more with the XULA mission statement that brings all students, faculty, and staff at XULA together: The ultimate purpose of the University is to contribute to the promotion of a more just and humane society by preparing its students to assume roles of leadership and service in a global society. We also echo the words of Dr. Verret’s centennial statement: “The mission set forth nearly 100 years ago is as relevant today as ever. And, every person that comes through Xavier’s door is an essential part of that mission, for we are a community dedicated to academic excellence and much, much more....The Xavierite legacy is to be leading voices for change and justice.” 
 
This is the statement in which our tuition dollars went in support of, that our collective efforts cumulate for, and that we seek to represent. Therefore, we express our immense disagreement with the choice of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield to be the Commencement speaker for the 2024 Commencement Ceremony.  

Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has repeatedly voted against a ceasefire in Gaza, resulting in the decimation of all 13 universities in Gaza, the loss of over 30,000 lives with thousands more remaining in the rubble from violence, and the continuation of the genocide in Gaza. Palestinians in Gaza draw upon the experiences of their brothers and sisters in America during the segregation era.  Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield has not played a direct role in the furthering of the Xavierite mission; she has not contributed to the scholarly success at Xavier, has not represented our mission through her actions as UN ambassador, has allowed for the continuation of systematic oppression, and does not represent our student body. Moreover, her presence poses a potential source of disruption in what should otherwise be a day of celebration. 
 
As an HBCU, XULA represents the championing of education in eras of segregation. XULA has been a haven for Black students, Asian students, Middle Eastern/North African students, Jewish students, and Muslim students who all seek refuge in the supportive, diverse, and open-minded environment unique to minority-serving institutions. Xavier University hosts a wide variety of students whom the ongoing genocide in Gaza continues to impact personally. We have students whose families and friends reside in Gaza, who are Palestinians, who are Muslims, who are Jewish and being targeted for their views, and who are our allies who feel our pains upon seeing the devastating images of violence. We have faculty members and alumni who have family members who have been targeted, brutalized, and imprisoned by the Israeli Defense Forces. We have young community members — our ages, younger and older — who Israeli Defense Forces have killed. Ambassador Thomas-Greenfield violates the haven that XULA has been, and it is deeply upsetting that such a violation is scheduled for our commencement ceremony.  
We have reached out to the administration with several pleas since October.  We, Xavier University of Louisiana students, echo them once more today:  

1. We demand a new commencement speaker. We request someone who has actively represented the University’s mission statement and consistently supported HBCUs.  
2. We ask that the University amplify the calls for a ceasefire to prevent the further killing of innocent civilians and call for humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gazans. 
3. We ask that the University honors its Muslim, Jewish, and Christian students, its Arab and non-Arab students, its Black and Brown students, and its students who stand for equity, justice, and peace by standing amongst us as we educate the masses and speak out against oppression.

Our calls to action have previously been met with silence or response to remain “neutral.” We ask that you end the politicization of our Commencement ceremony and honor your students who entered this institution during a global pandemic in a time of police brutality, persevered through a Category 4 hurricane, and have stood their ground to achieve despite the calamities we witnessed globally.  

The world is watching, history is in the making, and it is up to you to take the proper action. None of us are free until all of us are free.   
 
 
Signed by the Xavier University of Louisiana Community