The University of Alabama is threatening

[AverageJoe]

to withhold the degree of any student who protests Trump’s entirely inappropriate commencement appearance.

They are hiding the threat behind a screen where students have to go to register for tickets.

I’m sorry I can’t figure out how to post an image of a screen capture, but I promise you this is real.

[BOSSHOG]

1. Yeah Baby

That’s what I spent three decades in Uniform supporting and defending. The righ to suppress freedom. As if Alabama could be any more embarrassed.

[Grins]

23. I didn't do 30-years; I did 6. Willingly ! And today...

I regret all of it.

[BOSSHOG]

32. Were the Good Guys My Friend

Strange twist for us. Put our Dicks on the line. For what?

[Old Crank]

38. I did just under 5

As a naturalized citizen. Beginning to look like the wrong choice since the GOP is spitting, or worse, on the Constitution.

[dutch777]

2. Now there is a university that deserves to be unfunded and decertified.

[BOSSHOG]

33. I'll pray for that

And there ain’t nothing religious about me.

[walkingman]

3. So sad that we are so ashamed of our President. Says a lot about

the ethics and morality of our population. Especially those that call themselves conservative.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. University graduation is a big thing, was for me, but skip the ceremony. The degree & the work for it are what count. nt

[Bettie]

5. Neither of my boys

who graduated college did the ceremony. They are happy with the degree.

[AverageJoe]

8. He's not part of the regular commencement

It’s a special, ticketed event only open to graduating seniors and, I suppose, their guests. So, graduates can still attend their official commencement ceremonies without the abomination being present.

That said, I would love it if a big chunk of the graduates simply refused to show up at all in protest.

The university is shaming itself. It is disgraceful.

[Mossfern]

15. My University graduation ceremonies were cancelled

because of the Blizzard of 1969. I used to have nightmares that I never really graduated from college because I was missing a credit for phys ed. (Yes there was a requirement back then, but I wasn't missing a credit) I would go downstairs to find my diploma on the bookshelf just to make sure. I chose not to go to the graduation ceremony for grad school - just too much hassle. I have my piece of paper.

Is this move by the U of Alabama legal?
Can they be sued for abridgment of 1st amendment rights?

[LA Blue Bengal]

25. I had a similar nightmare off and on

after I graduated in 1992. I dreamed that I was missing an English credit and I had to go back to take the class or my degree would be rescinded. I had to dig out my transcript a few times just to make sure I had all my credits 😆

[Phoenix61]

29. OMG! I had one that I hadn't graduated high-school so the

college wanted my degree back.

[Diamond_Dog]

35. I've had those kind of dreams too!

Like I needed one more class to graduate and I forgot to go to it all semester and just remembered it at the last minute, and then I couldn’t find the classroom in the building, couldn’t find my book or syllabus, etc.

[yellowcanine]

44. I have had those dreams. And sometimes I am on my

way to class and I realize I am stark naked but no one seems to notice so I carry on.

[sop]

6. 'Can schools punish students by withholding degrees for legal acts of protest?'

No, the school cannot withhold a degree. The First Amendment still applies at public universities, even in Alabama.

https://www.freedomforum.org/protesting-on-college-campuses/

[edhopper]

10. Who will stop them

imaging graduating and trying to find work while you are spending resources on a legal battle to get your degree from your University.

[sop]

12. Imagine trying to find an attorney after being disappeared to El Salvador.

[edhopper]

13. Are you trying to play

Which is worse?

[sop]

16. Stuck in a Salvadorean gulag with no degree and ten$ of thousand$ in student loans you'll still have to pay,

Roll Tide!

[edhopper]

18. You win

[Aristus]

7. I'm guessing they play Pomp And Circumstance on banjos and jaw harps?

[Henry203]

9. A 90 minute screed

Complaining how the world is unfair to him.

[blubunyip]

11. "We're inside the fortress"

--University Capitulation photo op.

Students and Professors should boycott. Just not be there.

[onenote]

14. Edited: The University is threatening those who "engage in inappropriate disruptive behavior" at the speech.

Last edited Sun Apr 27, 2025, 11:01 AM - Edit history (1)

See post #19


Attendance at the speech is optional and is separate from commencement activities. If a graduating student doesn't want to attend -- and I fervently hope most would opt not to attend although I fear that probably is not going to be the case -- they don't have to.

https://news.ua.edu/president-trump-address-to-graduates/

[AverageJoe]

19. I can't figure out how to post an image here

But here is a portion of the text:

“Because of the heightened security measures in place for this event, any student who is found to have engaged in inappropriate disruptive behavior at this voluntary ceremony will be subject to discipline, campus ban, and degrees may be held pending the outcome of student conduct proceedings.”

If you read this differently than I do, so be it. I think any reading of this as being other than a threat is incredibly naive.

Take your “BS” insult and shove it.

[onenote]

21. It would have helped if you had included that in your original post. I'm editing mine.

[Silent Type]

17. Agree with Onenote. Tuscaloosa News said attendence is optional.

"Attendance at Trump’s address is optional for the spring 2025 graduates and the commencement ceremonies scheduled for May 2 through May 4 will still be held as planned."

https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2025/04/25/what-we-know-president-donald-trumps-university-of-alabama-speech/83253505007/

With that said, it's not that hard to believe there are folks at UA who believe graduates should bow down to trump.

[AverageJoe]

20. The threat is behind a wall on the UA website

That you can’t see unless you are registering for tickets.

[Nigrum Cattus]

22. Gee, how un-American

pathetic and

[Celerity]

24. use this to do a snapshot

https://gyazo.com/

[AverageJoe]

27. I have a screenshot

How do I post it?

[Celerity]

30. upload it to one of these

https://postimages.org/

https://imgur.com/upload

[AverageJoe]

36. Thanks! Here it is.

[Celerity]

40. yw

[OrlandoDem2]

26. Fucking Confederacy! I hate that "south shall rise again" mentality!

Fuck all the toothless rednecks that support him.

[Botany]

28. Freedom of Speech it is right there in the U.S. Constitution and there is no clause that says it isn't backed ..

… by the force of law if it makes Krasnov upset. The Crimson Tide needs to decide what side
they want to be on. The patriotic doing the right thing side and standing up for free speech or
helping Krasnov and his Hitlerian Dictatorship desires.

Does the U. of A. want another stain on it reputation like this one from 60+ years ago?

[harumph]

31. Your Cadillac has got a wheel in the ditch. And a wheel on the track

Still.

[maspaha]

34. Register for tickets and then don't show up...

…give him a tiny crowd and deprive him of a large audience. Make the story about the absence of support. Orange dude values being adored…deprive him!

[OrlandoDem2]

37. That would make me want to protest. That's a dare or invitation to do it!

[DENVERPOPS]

39. Next,

will be, any student expressing freedom of speech, critical of anyone/anything about a Republican or Republican Party will be expelled from their college, and permanently banned from any college, public or private.........

I can only imagine this scenario spreading like wildfire through every institution in every red state across America.....

[Mr. Sparkle]

41. I know nothing about the University of Alabama, but this is something i would expect the University of Alabama to do

[Exp]

42. That will lure the smarter kids in the future. n/t

[wolfie001]

43. Alabama also wants to erase their history of lynching and all other kinds of nastiness

Southern hospitality to me means, "See ya later. I'm heading North!"

[twodogsbarking]

45. I was hoping they would build a twenty foot middle finger statue