College campuses are on edge — just in time for graduation

Boston area colleges are bracing for a month of commencement and graduation events while student unrest is near a boiling point on some campuses over the war in Gaza.

Why it matters: A little over a week after the pro-Palestinian student encampment at Northeastern University was cleared by police and nearly 100 demonstrators were arrested, the Northeastern community will gather at Fenway Park for their annual commencement ceremony.

• Tensions between students and the college's administration are at a fever pitch.

What they're saying: "Things obviously aren't back to normal," civil engineering major Colin Sutherland, who graduates Sunday, told the student paper the Huntington News .

Northeastern University spokesperson Renata Nyul wouldn't say if the school will put restrictions on students' or guests' speeches or ability to express political stances on their mortarboards or graduation regalia, a popular tradition at NEU and other schools.

• Nyul told Axios in a statement there will be "enhanced student affairs and public safety staffing" at Fenway on Sunday, but would not answer questions about limitations on students' speech at the event.
• National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan is scheduled to speak at NEU's Fenway ceremony Sunday.
• The class's undergraduate student speaker is biology and political science major Rebecca Bamidele.

What we're watching: Civil liberties expert Harvey Silverglate told Axios that students who demonstrate at graduation should be constitutionally protected.

• "The constitution gives us the right to aggravate our fellow citizens and gives the right to aggravate the leaders of our institutions, and our own government," Silverglate said.
• A picket outside a graduation event, a student walkout or any other action that does not disrupt the event should be allowed under the federal and state constitutions, according to Silverglate.

The big picture: President Biden defended students' right to protest peacefully Thursday, but condemned aggressive actions on campuses nationwide as students rally against the Israel-Hamas war.

• "There's the right to protest, but not the right to cause chaos," Biden said, writes Axios' Erin Doherty.

What's next: Emerson College, which had its own student encampment raided by police last week, will hold commencement May 12.

• Boston University and Tufts University's events are the following Sunday. Harvard's commencement is May 23.

MIT will hold its commencement ceremony May 29.

• School spokesperson Sarah McDonnell told Axios MIT police and local first responders "will engage in wide-ranging scenario planning ahead of this year's Commencement ceremony" to prepare for situations that could impact the event.
• McDonnell said in an email MIT does not publicly discuss the specifics of internal safety plans.