It’s not unheard of to see personalized graduation caps with optimistic messages during graduation ceremonies.

But caps with phrases like “God is Good” and “Onto the next step” were vastly outnumbered by those with “Free Palestine,” “Stop genocide now” and “Gaza Class of 2024” during Colorado College’s 2024 commencement Sunday at Ed Robson Arena.

Numerous students displayed their support for Palestine amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas while a handful of students showed support for Israel during and after the ceremony honoring this year’s 558 graduates.

Around 20 graduates adorned Palestinian keffiyeh over their gowns and over 40 Palestinian flags were given to college President L. Song Richardson by students as she presented them with their degrees. Richardson offered to include the flag in their graduation photos, which many students agreed to do.

Ahead of the traditional tassel-tossing ceremony, CC Student Government Association President Vicente Blas-Taijeron began his statements asking for a moment of silence for the people of Gaza.

“Unfortunately, they do not have graduation ceremonies this year as all 12 of the universities in Gaza have been destroyed,” he said.

The symbolic gestures were the latest in a series of campus activities led by students in response to the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel. Last week, an encampment on campus was dismantled after standing for nearly two weeks. Earlier this month, students and faculty staged a walkout to express concerns about the war and college endowment funds being used to support Israel.

With students openly demonstrating as their names were called Sunday morning, the ceremony marked the most public display of solidarity over the war. Many had been reluctant to speak out over concerns of retaliation by administration.

While none of the CC administration, board of trustees or alumni who spoke during the ceremony directly referred to the conflict or students’ earlier demonstrations, their civil engagement and calls for social justice were noted and lauded.

“You used your right to free expression to advocate for the causes that meant the most to you,” Richardson, the outgoing president, told graduates while listing off their achievements during their tenure.

Richardson, who announced her resignation in February, said in a media release that her decision to continue her academic work in California was partly due to her inability to openly engage and speak on social issues.

Following the ceremony, a group of pro-Palestinians protesters stood with signs across the street from the arena and began chanting as attendees made their way to the reception area on Tava Quad.

Some graduates joined protesters while other attendees shouted arguments at them as they passed through and around them. Some Jewish graduates then unfolded an Israeli flag and stood across from the chanters, holding it up in silence. Despite the heightened emotions, all actions remained peaceful.

Pro-Palestinian protesters also marched through the quad during the reception before quickly dispersing. Protesters declined to speak to The Gazette following the demonstration.

Kyle Mezrow, a Jewish graduate and one of three graduates wearing a custom stole displaying both U.S. and Israeli flags, expressed disappointment with both his fellow students and college administration for the demonstrations that were allowed to take place in recent months.

“It hurts,” he said. “It hurts especially to see our college president posing with the Palestinian flag and graduates. But I’m proud to have been able to go up there and stand for Israel myself today.”

He added that Jewish students have felt threatened on campus in recent months following the initial attack on Israel in October and the on-campus demonstrations advocating for Palestine and denouncing Zionists. He said he’s come across antisemitic comments on the anonymous social media app Yik Yak while hearing of classmates confronting Jewish students.

An on-campus memorial composed of Israeli flags was reportedly vandalized less than 24 hours after being arranged, Mezrow said. It was assembled around the same time as the walkout and start of the encampment, he said, and that the administration never responded to emails sent by concerned Jewish students and families.

“I can say that for the last six months, I have been less proud to be a Colorado College student,” Mezrow said.

Richardson was not available for comment following the commencement ceremony, a CC spokesperson told The Gazette.

Before the ceremony, administration sent messages to graduates reminding them of the school’s freedom of expression policy. Dean of Students Lacy Karpilo gave a verbal reminder at commencement rehearsal that students could only bring their phones into the arena and couldn’t block anyone’s view of or ability to hear speakers. Protesters outside of the arena were asked to stay on sidewalks.

Last year, graduates turned their chairs and sat with their backs turned to keynote speaker Liz Cheney, a former U.S. representative and CC alum, during her commencement speech.