Xavier University's Controversial Commencement Speaker: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and the Balance of Perspectives

New Orleans, Louisiana United States of America
Some students felt her positions did not adequately support a ceasefire and failed to prioritize Palestinian lives.
The graduation ceremony is planned for 1pm on Saturday at Xavier University's Convocation Center. It remains unclear if there will be a new speaker.
Thomas-Greenfield faced opposition at Xavier and University of Vermont due to her past positions on ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council regarding the war in Gaza.
Xavier University President Reynold Verret cancelled Thomas-Greenfield's appearance at Xavier's commencement ceremony to ensure a disruption-free event.
Xavier University's commencement ceremony has been controversial due to the selection of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield as speaker.
Xavier University's Controversial Commencement Speaker: Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and the Balance of Perspectives

Xavier University's commencement ceremony has been a subject of controversy after the selection of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield as the speaker. The decision was met with disapproval from some students due to her past positions on the war in Gaza.

Thomas-Greenfield, who is a Louisiana native and graduate of Louisiana State University, faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont where she was also scheduled to deliver a commencement address. The school ultimately announced that she would not be speaking there.

The controversy began when students expressed their opposition to Thomas-Greenfield's past votes on ceasefire resolutions in the UN Security Council regarding the war in Gaza. Some students felt that her positions did not adequately support a ceasefire and failed to prioritize Palestinian lives.

Xavier University President Reynold Verret announced the cancellation of Thomas-Greenfield's appearance at Xavier's commencement ceremony in an email to faculty, staff, and students. He stated that the decision was made in partnership with the ambassador and aimed to ensure a commencement ceremony free of disruptions.

The graduation ceremony is planned for 1pm on Saturday at Xavier University's Convocation Center. It remains unclear whether there will be a new speaker to fill Thomas-Greenfield's spot.

Chase Patterson, the president of Xavier Student Government Association, applauded Verret's decision to listen to students' concerns. He expressed optimism that students would continue to support the administration and that they would continue to be heard.

The controversy surrounding Thomas-Greenfield's selection as commencement speaker highlights the complexities of balancing competing perspectives and priorities in a diverse community.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

85%

Doubts
  • Is there any evidence that Thomas-Greenfield's positions directly caused harm to Palestinian lives?
  • Were all students opposed to Thomas-Greenfield's selection, or just a vocal minority?

Sources

98%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Xavier University cancels commencement speaker amid backlash

WDSU News Darrin Post Thursday, 09 May 2024 12:44
  • Unique Points
    • Xavier University has cancelled its commencement speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield due to student outrage over her past positions on the war in Gaza.
    • The decision was made after backlash from the Student Government Association.
  • Accuracy
    • Xavier University has cancelled its commencement speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
    • The decision was made after backlash from the Student Government Association
    • Thomas-Greenfield faced similar backlash at University of Vermont where she was set to deliver the commencement address and was ultimately not invited to speak
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Louisiana university cancels graduation address by UN ambassador over Gaza

theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Thursday, 09 May 2024 19:07
  • Unique Points
    • Xavier University cancelled the commencement address by US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, due to student outrage over her past positions on the war in Gaza.
    • University President Reynold Verret announced cancellation in an email, stating that students wanted a commencement ceremony free of disruptions.
    • Thomas-Greenfield faced similar backlash at University of Vermont where she was set to deliver commencement address and was ultimately not invited to speak.
  • Accuracy
    • Thomas-Greenfield explained US vetoes by stating that the US could not support ceasefire resolutions without mentioning Israel’s right to self-defense or until Hamas freed hostages taken during the attack on Israel.
    • Some students at Xavier University are criticizing the choice of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as the commencement speaker due to her past positions on the war in Gaza.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of a dichotomous depiction. The author presents statements from the university's president and students without explicitly taking sides, so formal logical fallacies are not present according to the analysis rules. However, there is an instance of inflammatory rhetoric: 'Students were outraged over Thomas-Greenfield’s invitation to speak because of their opposition to the past positions by the US on the war in Gaza.' This phrasing presents a stark dichotomy between those who support and those who oppose the US's past positions on Gaza, oversimplifying a complex political issue. Additionally, there are examples of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority: 'Thomas-Greenfield did not comment on the decision... faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont... Pro-Palestinian student protesters called for the school to cancel her speech, citing the vetoed ceasefire resolutions.' These statements inflame tensions by highlighting opposition to Thomas-Greenfield and her positions. The score is not lower due to these fallacies being relatively few in comparison to the overall content of the article.
    • Students were outraged over Thomas-Greenfield’s invitation to speak because of their opposition to the past positions by the US on the war in Gaza.
    • Thomas-Greenfield did not comment on the decision... faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont... Pro-Palestinian student protesters called for the school to cancel her speech, citing the vetoed ceasefire resolutions.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

95%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

US ambassador to United Nations, a Baker native, cancels visit day after Xavier speech scrubbed

WBRZ Thursday, 09 May 2024 20:41
  • Unique Points
    • Linda Thomas-Greenfield canceled her appearance at Baker High School due to a scheduling conflict.
    • Thomas-Greenfield's speech at Xavier University of Louisiana's graduation ceremonies was canceled due to student displeasure with the US position on the war in Gaza.
    • The ambassador's office stated that there were 'scheduling snafus'
  • Accuracy
    • ][The ambassador's office stated that there were 'scheduling snafus'][], [[Xavier University cancelled its commencement speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield], [SGA President Chase Patterson expressed disapproval for Thomas-Greenfield’s selection due to her vote against a cease-fire in Gaza]], [[Some students at Xavier University are criticizing the choice of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as the commencement speaker due to her past positions on the war in Gaza], [Zaynab Al-Rashed, Xavier Muslim Student Association President, created a Change.org petition calling on university administrators to find a new commencement speaker and support calls for a ceasefire]]
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

90%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Some Xavier University students upset with planned commencement address by UN ambassador

The Fixing Site: A Summary of the Article. Associated Press Wednesday, 08 May 2024 18:57
  • Unique Points
    • Xavier University's undergraduate commencement address will be given by US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield
    • Linda Thomas-Greenfield is a Louisiana native and graduate of Louisiana State University
    • She is described as a 'trailblazing Black woman' who forged her own path
  • Accuracy
    • Xavier University has cancelled its commencement speaker, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

75%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Some Xavier University students upset with planned commencement address by UN ambassador

The Associated Press News Wednesday, 08 May 2024 18:56
  • Unique Points
    • Xavier University's undergraduate commencement address will be delivered by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
    • Some students at Xavier University are criticizing the choice of Linda Thomas-Greenfield as the commencement speaker due to her past positions on the war in Gaza.
    • Thomas-Greenfield faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont, where she was set to deliver the commencement address, and the school announced she would not be speaking.
    • Xavier Muslim Student Association President Zaynab Al-Rashed created a Change.org petition calling on university administrators to find a new commencement speaker and support calls for a ceasefire. Over 1,600 people have signed it as of Tuesday afternoon.
  • Accuracy
    • ]Xavier University's undergraduate commencement address will be delivered by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield.[
    • Xavier Muslim Student Association President Zaynab Al-Rashed created a Change.org petition calling on university administrators to find a new commencement speaker and support calls for a ceasefire.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article reports on students' criticism of Linda Thomas-Greenfield's past positions at the UN regarding ceasefires in Gaza. While not making any editorializing statements themselves, they quote students who do so. This selective reporting of only the critical viewpoint without providing balance or context is a form of deception.
    • But soon after news of her appearance at the historically Black university spread, students asked the administration to cancel her speech and created an online petition calling for the same.
    • It has come to our attention that the university has chosen to invite a U.N. ambassador who has voted against a ceasefire in Gaza to address our graduating class.
    • We really want this to be a celebratory conclusion to our time at Xavier, and there is concern that having this individual speak takes away from that.
  • Fallacies (75%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy in the form of quoting past actions and statements by Linda Thomas-Greenfield without providing context or analysis. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of the situation by presenting only the students' opposition to Thomas-Greenfield's appearance without balancing it with any counterarguments or perspectives.
    • The U.S. vetoed three other ceasefire resolutions proposed by other countries.
    • Since October, tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians have been killed in Gaza.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication