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Virginia Commonwealth University has announced that Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin will address students at the school’s spring commencement ceremony this Saturday.

“VCU welcomes Virginia’s 74th Governor, Glenn Youngkin, to VCU to speak with our Class of 2024 graduates, who are the next generation of workers, makers and innovators,” said the school’s president, Dr. Michael Rao. “We appreciate Governor Youngkin’s commitment to growing Virginia’s workforce and its connection to higher education.”

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Youngkin, a Republican who won the 2021 Virginia gubernatorial election, also gave speeches at George Mason University and Old Dominion University in May 2023. Thousands at both schools opposed having Youngkin as a speaker.

Students at GMU wrote at the time: “Selecting a speaker who has passed anti-trans legislation, promoted the elimination of racial equity curricula, and limited the availability of literature in public schools is an intentional targeting of historically marginalized communities including Mason. It is harmful and disrespectful to the many students who continually shape the GMU community to bring in someone who has also neglected the needs of Virginians.

After the university refused to listen to the students’ demands, several students left the ceremony.

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In March, Youngkin’s administration had requested syllabi from both VCU and GMU to find out whether these universities are pushing a diversity, equity and inclusion agenda on their students.

Campus reform has contacted Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Commonwealth University for comment. This article will be updated accordingly.