In a message sent to the Morgan State University community Sunday, President David K. Wilson addressed disruptions during Saturday’s undergraduate commencement ceremony, where he paused the program multiple times to speak directly to members of the Divine Nine organizations about their conduct on stage.
Wilson pledged that university officials will be ‘reviewing and updating our policies around ‘strolling’ during Commencement,’ adding that new guidance and restrictions are expected in the coming weeks.
Wilson’s remarks came in the wake of repeated interruptions by campus fraternity and sorority members as they received their diplomas, including a student member of the Board of Regents.
In the written address to the university, Wilson said, “For the first time in my tenure as President, I had to pause the ceremony on a couple of occasions to remind certain members of the graduating class—particularly those from a Divine Nine organization—that Commencement is a shared celebration.”
“It is not about any one group; it is about all graduates and the thousands of family members and friends gathered in support. As a proud member of a Divine Nine organization myself, I say unapologetically that their behavior did not reflect well on them—or on our University.”
During Saturday’s ceremony, Wilson directly admonished the conduct, saying “The (podium) stage is not built for that, and you are powering out the equipment. And that’s standing in the way of all your loved ones who are gathered here to watch their loved ones come across the stage. And so we understand that. So, let’s go forward and absolutely understand the serious nature of this ceremony so we can make sure that we’re celebrating everyone.”
His remarks, however, were met with audible boos from the crowd.
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Despite Wilson’s comments, more individuals from Divine Nine organizations—including Jared Patterson, a student member of the Board of Regents who was graduating—continued the celebratory strolling across the stage, seemingly in defiance of the earlier warning.
Still, Wilson noted that the incident did not overshadow what he called one of the most ‘successful Commencement weeks Morgan has experienced in some time.’
Conrad M . Gilliam • May 22, 2025 at 9:22 am
Graduates must be taught the meaning and the historic reference of this academic exercise. It is not a social event and should not be treated or envisioned as such. I guess, if the participants and attendees of the event will not respect the ceremony’s tradition and intent, the ceremony can be discontinued, and degrees can always be mailed.
Chris Williams • May 22, 2025 at 6:28 am
Where is your pride and self-respect young men and women of the future? If I had to, I would venture to say that you acted more like adults during your kindergarten graduation. Graduation of any institution of education is supposed to be a somber, respectful occasion rather than a childish act of disrespect toward your teachers and fellow graduates. What a shame!
Deborah Banks • May 21, 2025 at 5:06 pm
I agree with him. I do think that cultural celebrations Black.Asian.Latina separate ceremonies should allow for all that and more
Mary Elizabeth Gross-Leonow • May 21, 2025 at 4:53 pm
Pathetic goons. Were they raised by wolves?
Mary Louise Josey • May 21, 2025 at 3:18 pm
There is a time and place for everything, shame on these graduates!
Member of the Divine 9
Boseman • May 21, 2025 at 9:05 am
Those men and women earned their chance to dance!!! The could be in jail, on drugs etc… But they are graduating from college. Yes it slows the ceremony down but really? Let’s put priorities first, that’s a BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT.
Nina NoTea • May 21, 2025 at 2:29 am
I’m not even in a sorority but I think Mr. Wilson shouldn’t be a president at an HBCU. Let those young folks do their walk, THEIR WAY! They positively affected the stats for graduation percentages, thats the least you can give them for it.
Candice C. Floyd • May 20, 2025 at 8:23 pm
Just recently, I read an article in The Spokesman in which you, the President of Historically Black College/University, took umbrage at the number of times you had ro pause the commencement ceremony “several times” as the graduates walked, danced, and otherwise celebrated across the stage. The news while not quite national, gained the attention of Google’s newswire browser.
I say to you, Dr. Wilson, and by extension anyone else critical of their celebration: let those be! Don’t try to squelch their celebration during this major milestone. Not only did they achieve a bachelor’s degree–at least 120 credits, which translates almost 40 courses over a four to five year span, they did so after having most of their comforts and traditions stripped away from them.
Four to five year ago, a major thing happened where most of the world stayed in the house for the better part of 18 months. The students graduating this year went home for an early spring break and had to endure hardships unlike any other generation.
-Let’s start with the fact that many of them were unable to go to prom. The virus was so new that few schools were willling to risk public health and safety.
-They had to forgo the tradition of high school graduation. For many of them, this was the first time they had walked across a stage.
-They dealt with a justifiable level of anxiety because isolated as they were, they did not develop the social skills required by their age group.
-They questioned their education, and the need for attending large four-year institutions when they had to stay ensconced in their rooms.
-They suffered literacy and mathematical skills loss because they didn’t have that teacher pacing down the aisles hovering over their work.
-They were forced to see the disrespect for Black bodies for both 8 minutes and eight months as story after story unfolded before they could mourn the previous one.
-They witnessed the defense of Black bodies from everyehere but their own nation.
Yet they made it.
As they go out into the world, they are competing with adults suddenly thrust into unemployment by a federal administration bent on cronyism, rising grocery prices, an uncertain housing market, and educational debt that may be more insurmountable thanks to that same presidential agenda.
I never took advantage of attending an HBCU. On Mother’s Day weekend, I had the privilege of watching my godson graduate from a different HBCU (if you know YOU KNOW!), where I witnessed similar shenanigans of graduates unzipping their robes and showed off their fits, fraternity brothers rushing to the front row to do line steps with their graduating compatriot, and even the hijacking of the auditorium’s speakers as some students had their own entrance music.
I found myself envious that I missed out on the HBCU experience. I juxtaposed the African drummer at this HBCU with another university in the vicinity which had bagpipes as a leadin. I measured how sedate and boring this commencement was in comparison to the HBCU ceremony which, while longer, felt more intimate, celebratory, and frankly, entertaining. I barely noticed the passage of time in that space where it seemed everyone was celebrating everyone else.
These raucous celebrations likely did more to advertise the value of HBCU’s than all the money spent on advertising and merchandising.
Yet the Morgan graduates were told to suppress their joy–Black joy seldom seen or celebrated by anyone else in the world.
Shame on you.
Congratulations to the class of 2025. May they continue to celebrate loudly.
Lotetta • May 20, 2025 at 7:11 pm
You must remember joining a Devine 9 organization is and possibly will be biggest accomplishment some of them will EVER make.
Dorothy Marie Rice • May 20, 2025 at 3:47 pm
Shameful behavior from an entitled mentality.
Juanita • May 20, 2025 at 2:35 pm
So disrespectful. This was not a time to showcase a public performance at the expense of others. If you can’t adhere to simple instructions, how do you expect others to follow any instructions you give.
DDW • May 20, 2025 at 1:16 pm
We understand it’s shared but it’s a great moment for the 9. And let’s see who will support your school the most after graduation it will be someone from the Divine 9.
Ms.Della • May 20, 2025 at 10:13 am
I think students have the wrong impression on life itself , when they engaged too much on sororities and fraternities. I do think it’s an activity or my I say social affair for the students & alumni future & beyond . My concerns are our students knowledge of the importance of our HCBU to get here ! Now , that’s where the embarrassments that fall upon Recognition of long over due . We do have proud ones in the room trying effortlessly , joyful and overwhelmed parents , Faculty and friends. We also want to celebrate everyone as well . I do hope our students can act like ladies and gentlemen across the stage of our past ancestors and beyond to get here . We want them to take the torch and stand proud!
Thank