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Amid scattered protests and walkouts, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin addressed George Mason University鈥檚 graduating class Thursday, calling the more than 11,000 graduates the 鈥渂uilders鈥� of Virginia鈥檚 future.
Youngkin gave the school鈥檚 2023 commencement address in spite of protests over his choice as the university鈥檚 guest speaker for the ceremony. Several dozen students could be seen walking off the EagleBank Arena floor in protest when Youngkin began his remarks, but most remained in their seats and listened along, with some offering a standing ovation when he finished.
Youngkin largely stayed away from politics in his remarks, focusing instead on the individual stories of three 2023 graduates and the more than 1,100 first-generation students, part of what the university said was the largest and most-diverse graduating class in the history of the commonwealth.
鈥淲e are stronger because no matter your faith, no matter your nationality, no matter your race, your culture or creed, as you walk across this stage you will have the opportunity to become a builder of Virginia, a builder of this nation, a builder of this world,鈥� he said.
鈥� 鈥� A world that needs your strong foundation, a world that needs your resilience and your passion. Now, this is my challenge to you: Do not be afraid of criticism. Keep going, keep pushing, and keep dreaming. The world needs builders, and you will build.鈥�
As he left the podium, Youngkin stood and smiled as Galilea Sejas-Machado, the commencement鈥檚 senior speaker, held up a sign reading 鈥淢ASON DEMANDS ACTION,鈥� a reference to the protests over Youngkin鈥檚 selection.
In earlier remarks at the commencement, GMU Board of Visitors Rector Horace Blackmon said it was a 鈥渓ong Mason tradition鈥� to invite the commonwealth鈥檚 chief executive to address graduates. Former governors Jim Gilmore, Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and Terry McAuliffe all spoke at Mason鈥檚 graduation during their tenure.
But some student groups had called for the university to rescind its invitation since the announcement that Youngkin would be speaking was made in March.
Groups including the Democrats at Mason and the Black, African-Heritage, and Caribbean Coalition encouraged students to stand up and walk out during his remarks, citing the Virginia Department of Education鈥檚 鈥渕odel policies鈥� on trans students in the state鈥檚 public schools, among other things.
鈥淭he Youngkin Administration opposes LGBTQ+ rights and has rolled back protections for trans students, while introducing policies that would force educators to out closeted LGBTQ+_ students,鈥� the college Democrats wrote in an Instagram post. 鈥淲hy should trans and other LGBTQ+ graduates be forced to listen to a speaker who wants to strip them of their rights?鈥�
A organized by 2023 graduate and Mason NAACP chapter president Alaina Ruffin, meanwhile, garnered over 8,000 signatures in opposition to the choice of guest speaker. Some graduating students could be seen holding 鈥淪tudents against Youngkin鈥� signs, while others wore shirts opposing the model policies as they walked across the stage to receive their diploma.
Other students, however, supported the university鈥檚 choice and defended Youngkin鈥檚 selection as the chief executive of Virginia.
鈥淪o many fellow College Republicans at GMU worked our butts off in 2021 to make this man Governor,鈥� College Republicans member and 2023 graduate Joe Szymanski wrote on Twitter from his seat at Eagle Bank Arena. 鈥淎nd today he speaks at our school鈥檚 commencement! A fantastic day.鈥�
In March, GMU President Gregory Washington defended the choice, saying students should learn to listen to those with whom they disagree and opposing efforts to 鈥渟ilence鈥� others.
In his remarks on Thursday, Washington highlighted a debate over abortion that he saw at Mason’s Arlington campus last summer. The two sides, he said, agreed to terms on the demonstrations, agreed not to photograph or demonize each other on social media and gave room to one another to make their points.
鈥淭wo groups of Mason students, representing both sides of this contentious issue, showed up at our Mason Square campus in Arlington to demonstrate. Their passions could not have run higher 鈥� and there they were on the same plaza, determined to be heard. As an administration, we were nervous 鈥� I was nervous,鈥� Washington said.
鈥淭heir chants and shouts were joined and went back and forth like a tennis match. And when each had their say, they left in peace. Neither side was silenced, nor tried to silence the others. In the end, they came and they left as Patriots. That is who we are.鈥�
Speaking before Youngkin, Sejas-Machado began her senior speaker remarks with a land acknowledgment to several Virginia Native American tribes. Without mentioning Youngkin by name, she spoke about the importance of solidarity within marginalized communities.
鈥淧eople and systems are placed in society that 鈥� continues to be detrimental to our marginalized communities. Simply sharing your story or having your group of people with a shared experience is not enough to protect you,鈥� she said.
鈥淚nstead, the impact of our words and stories can create waves of change for future generations 鈥� These past four years have shown us that social and racial injustices happen daily, and I cannot promise that they will get 100% better 鈥� Whatever guides your actions, morals or perspectives, keep it closer to your heart and find others who support and elevate you.鈥�
