Princeton SPIA Honors Graduates Advocating Global Child Protection

Speakers at Princeton University's School of Public and International Affairs emphasized the vital importance of public service amid current political challenges, with calls to uphold human dignity and protect vulnerable populations worldwide. The graduates face a difficult environment, including political attacks on federal workers, yet are urged to remain committed to the public good and future generations. Meanwhile, at the University of Alabama, President Donald Trump's commencement speech to the Class of 2025 sparked controversy, with local media labeling the event a political rally and scrutinizing its organization despite its historic significance as a sitting president's address. In higher education, Northwestern University hired a visiting associate professor as part of a deal with student groups, but his ties to organizations linked to Palestinian terrorist groups have raised alarm among critics who cite concerns about academic norms and national security. These contrasting events reflect ongoing tensions in American public institutions between political polarization, academic freedom, and national security considerations.