While the boos died down after a few minutes, as DeVos wished students well as they embarked on their paths after graduation, they began again after the Education Secretary mentioned that she would be visiting the grave of College founder Mary McLeod Bethune later in the day.
DeVos has come under fire by civil rights groups including the Black Lives Matter movement for some her positions supporting private schools, charter schools and religious education.
There was no chance that was going to happen in 2017.
DeVos alienated many African-Americans in February when she described historically black colleges as "real pioneers when it comes to school choice". "If this behavior continues, we can mail the degrees to you", he said, Florida Today reported.
Last week was no exception when it was announced that she would be the commencement speaker at Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida - a university that happens to be a historically black college. The university, however, refused proposals to disinvite DeVos.
B-CU administrators said petitioners came in with boxes, but some of them were almost empty. But the university said students are free to protest as long as it doesn't disrupt the graduation ceremony. During her confirmation hearing, she claimed that schools may need to allow guns in order to "protect against grizzly bears".
"While we will undoubtedly disagree at times I hope we can do so respectfully", she said, barely heard over the booing.
Many Bethune-Cookman University students, alumni and supporters made their disapproval of DeVos' appearance known well before she took the stage.
Dirk Kuyt scored a hat-trick as Feyenoord won the Eredivisie title
Feyenoord will represent the Netherlands in the next Champions League, while Ajax will start in the qualifying tournament. The club also is a two-time victor of the UEFA Cup, in 1974 and 2002. "I am so happy for him", Van Bronckhorst said.
"I'm a student, I'm about to be a junior at Bethune-Cookman", said Bobby Luke.
The school president, Edison O. Jackson tried to get the students to calm down by threatening them.
The students ignored Jackson's threats and continued to boo DeVos.
"If our students are robbed of the opportunity to experience and interact with views that may be different from their own, then they will be tremendously less equipped for the demands of democratic citizenship", he wrote.
The administration invited DeVos to speak against the wishes of practically the entire student body, not to mention alumni.
"As we have said repeatedly, be careful of the people you let in your place", Jackson said, acknowledging the criticism.
"We are all here to applaud your perseverance and to encourage each of you to keep working to reach your full potential", a visibly rattled DeVos told the crowd.
Comments