Valedictorian's speech calling for Gaza ceasefire ripples through U of Manitoba community

A valedictorian's speech for medicine grads at University of Manitoba that addressed the war in Gaza is spurring reactions beyond the convocation hall, as some students and faculty disagree on whether the message was fit for the moment.

Dr. Gem Newman delivered the 10-minute speech during a convocation ceremony for the Max Rady College of Medicine at the university's Bannatyne campus Thursday. Parts of the speech were later shared on social media, and prompted a statement from the college of medicine's dean.

During the last three minutes of his address, Newman said doctors' voices "have power," and called out the Canadian Medical Association, Doctors Manitoba and the Professional Association of Residents and Interns of Manitoba (PARIM) for their "deafening silence" on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Newman also urged his fellow new graduates — 106 new physicians made up the class — to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. On Oct. 7, Hamas and other militants killed around 1,200 people and took some 250 hostage in attacks on southern Israel, according to Israeli tallies.

"I call on you to stand in solidarity with Indigenous people everywhere. Here in Treaty 1 territory, where an Indigenous man can expect a life 10 years shorter than mine, and in Palestine, where Israel's deliberate targeting of hospitals and other civilian infrastructure has led to more than 35,000 deaths and widespread famine and disease," Newman said.

"I'm sure that some of you here today are worried that you might face censure for speaking about the genocidal war that Israel is waging on the people of Palestine, that it could jeopardize your career before it's even begun," he later added. 

"But look … surely, I don't have to remind any of you that advocacy is literally in our job description."

Dr. Stefon Irvine, one of the graduates in Newman's class, was present for the speech.

"From my perspective, there wasn't any students that were graduating that were upset with what was being said," Irvine told CBC News on Sunday.

"I think it's important to state that calling for a ceasefire is not inherently anti-Semitic, it's not inherently pro-Hamas. It's not inherently divisive. It's saying, 'Let's just stop the bloodshed on both sides.'"

The day after the speech, however, the school sent out a statement from the college of medicine dean Dr. Peter Nickerson in which he said some people present at the ceremony were "disappointed and alarmed by the political message" in the speech.

"I, too, am disappointed that the address was delivered in a way that didn't represent all students and that was disrespectful to some audience members who were there to celebrate and be celebrated," the statement released on Friday said.

"This isn't the purpose of a valedictorian address and the speech should have better reflected shared experiences, successes and a commitment to serve all communities."

Nickerson said valedictorian speeches have historically been "an encouraging, congratulatory message," not a political platform.