Small group of students protest Oren's Brandeis address

Commencement address follows weeks of petitions for and against Israeli ambassador.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Michael Oren pose 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Michael Oren pose 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren delivered the commencement address at Brandeis University on Sunday, following weeks of petitions both supporting and opposing the envoy. Some 20 students protested the envoy's speech outside the ceremony in which the event was held.
Oren was also scheduled to speak at Yeshiva University on Wednesday.
The Brandeis address was streamed live over the Internet via the university's homepage.
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Earlier in May, nearly 5,000 people signed a petition supportingBrandeis University’s choice of Israel’s US ambassador as itscommencement speaker. In previous weeks, several students called forthe invitation to be rescinded.
The petition’s tally exceeded the number of students on campus andincluded many alumni, parents and members of the Jewish community. Rossestimates that about 10 percent of those who have signed are students.
In contrast, the petition criticizing the invitation was signed almostexclusively by students, though only around 150 did so. These studentsalso held two small rallies, launched a Facebook page and pennedarticles opposing the invitation in the school newspaper which havegarnered media attention.
Hilary Leila Krieger contributed to this report