Golden State Today

Despite the echoes of protest chants reverberating across the venue, UC Berkeley's annual campuswide commencement proceeded as scheduled on Saturday. Speakers imparted wisdom and well-wishes to the graduating students, who were stepping out into a world fraught with challenges.

Nearly 8,000 students, donned in black gowns and colorful stoles, received their bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees amidst sunny weather. They were joined by about 20,000 guests who braved the heat to celebrate this milestone.

As the ceremony commenced, scattered chants of "Free Palestine!" emanated from the graduates' section. Palestinian flags waved alongside signs spelling DIVEST. This display morphed into a slow migration of students towards an unoccupied bleacher section, which soon housed more than 500 chanters. The cacophony threatened to overpower Chancellor Carol Christ's speech at her final graduation ceremony before her impending retirement in June.

Christ praised the Class of 2024 for their resilience in response to recent events and the COVID-19 pandemic. She urged them to reflect on their journey at Berkeley and carry those experiences into their personal and professional futures.

The program was briefly interrupted when the protesters' chants reached a crescendo but quickly resumed for keynote speaker Cynthia "Cynt" Marshall. A Berkeley alumna and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks — Marshall is recognized as the first African American female CEO in NBA history.

Marshall captivated the crowd with her story of overcoming adversity to become Berkeley’s first Black cheerleader. Her sports-related advice resonated with graduates as she encouraged them to take control of their future.

In spite of protests, spirits remained high amongst graduates who reunited with families for photos and celebrations post-ceremony. Dominic Cedillo, an ethnic studies and political science major lauded both his fellow graduates' right to protest and administration's allowance for it.

Many students expressed relief that Berkeley's graduation proceeded despite other universities cancelling their ceremonies due to anti-war protests. Zaina Shaik, a computer science major, shared her excitement about graduating from Berkeley’s College of Computing, Data Science, and Society.

As the graduates left the stadium to celebrate with friends and family, they reflected on their time at UC Berkeley. "I'm glad to be done, and excited for the next chapter of my life," said Nix Bukus, a history major who transferred to Berkeley two years ago.