Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is facing scrutiny, both locally and internationally, after withholding the diploma of psychology graduate Sereen Haddad, a 20-year-old Palestinian-American student who completed her degree in three years with highest honors. The university says the decision is tied to an ongoing student conduct review related to her participation in a memorial gathering on April 29, 2025, held to mark the one-year anniversary of a 2024 campus protest that ended in multiple arrests.
The 2025 memorial event commemorated the police removal of a pro-Palestinian student encampment that was established and dismantled on April 29, 2024, outside Cabell Library. That earlier demonstration resulted in over a dozen arrests and drew criticism from civil liberties groups. According to multiple accounts, the 2025 gathering was peaceful and did not result in arrests.
The case gained national attention earlier this month when The Guardian profiled Haddad as part of a broader story on student protest movements related to the war in Gaza. Yesterday morning, Haddad and her father, Dr. Tariq Haddad, appeared on the news program Democracy Now! to discuss the situation in detail.
According to Haddad, she received notice from the university on May 7, just three days before commencement, that her diploma would not be issued. She was allowed to walk across the stage during VCU’s graduation ceremony on May 10, but unlike her classmates, did not receive a degree.
The university has not publicly commented on her specific case, citing federal student privacy protections, but issued a general statement explaining that “a group of about 40 people held an unauthorized event on the lawn outside of Cabell Library” on April 29 2025. VCU officials say participants were informed the gathering was not in compliance with university policy and were asked to relocate to the Park Plaza Amphitheater, a designated protest space. “When seniors and graduate students are involved in a possible or alleged conduct violation, they receive a letter giving them advance notice of the potential ramifications if they are found responsible,” the statement read.
Haddad is an active member of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at VCU. She told Democracy Now! that she believes VCU policies were selectively enforced in response to Palestinian advocacy, including a new ban on sidewalk chalking that she said followed regular chalk protests by her group. “These policies aren’t about procedure, they’re about repression,” she said during the interview.
She added that she has legal representation from Palestine Legal and support from a petition with over 5,400 signatures calling for the release of her degree. Her student conduct hearing took place July 22, and a decision from the board is expected in the coming days.
VCU’s public policies define “major events” as gatherings of over 150 people, but Haddad argues that her April 29 gathering did not meet that threshold and was not clearly in violation. She also claims that there is no specific language in the policy prohibiting the use of the campus lawn for peaceful assembly.
The university’s general policy refers to “expressive activities” and encourages use of designated areas for protests, but language regarding informal gatherings remains broad. Haddad maintains that the memorial had already concluded when administrators approached the group and asked them to move.
In the same interview, Haddad spoke about the personal impact of the Gaza war, stating that over 200 members of her extended family have been killed since the conflict escalated. Her father, Dr. Tariq Haddad, a cardiologist and member of the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, added that the family has experienced multiple losses, including young relatives killed while seeking food and a special-needs family member killed by an airstrike.
Dr. Haddad said the family is “heartbroken but proud,” describing his daughter’s advocacy as part of a tradition of peaceful protest and moral clarity. “No parent wants to see their child have a degree withheld, but we’ve always taught our children to care about something bigger than themselves,” he said.
When asked whether she would accept her diploma if the university ultimately releases it, Haddad said she no longer views the institution as morally credible. “I don’t need validation from a university that is materially invested in a genocide,” she said. “I know I’m on the right side of history.”
She added, “We will not free Palestine; Palestine will free us.”
Support RVA Magazine. Support independent media in Richmond.
In a world where corporations and wealthy individuals now shape much of our media landscape, RVA Magazine remains fiercely independent, amplifying the voices of Richmond’s artists, musicians, and community. Since 2005, we’ve been dedicated to authentic, grassroots storytelling that highlights the people and culture shaping our city.
But we can’t do this without you. A small donation, even as little as $2 – one-time or recurring – helps us continue to produce honest, local coverage free from outside interference. Every dollar makes a difference. Your support keeps us going and keeps RVA’s creative spirit alive. Thank you for standing with independent media. DONATE HERE.
Also, you can show your support by purchasing our merch HERE.
