Students walked out of the keynote to protest an anti-abortion speaker.
On Sunday, the University of Michigan’s medical program held its keynote presentation, including its White Coat Ceremony, wherein new students receive their first medical coats. However, the speaker chosen for the keynote, Dr. Kristin Collier, drew controversy ahead of the presentation due to known anti-abortion views. Ahead of the keynote, a coalition of medical students submitted a petition requesting Dr. Collier be replaced with someone else.
“While we support the rights of freedom of speech and religion, an anti-choice speaker as a representative of the University of Michigan undermines the University’s position on abortion and supports the non-universal, theology-rooted platform to restrict abortion access, an essential part of medical care,” the petition reads.
“This is not simply a disagreement on personal opinion,” the petition adds. “Through our demand, we are standing up in solidarity against groups who are trying to take away human rights and restrict medical care.”
The university declined the students’ petition, stating that “The White Coat Ceremony is not a platform for discussion of controversial issues.”
“Its focus will always be on welcoming students into the profession of medicine. Dr. Collier never planned to address a divisive topic as part of her remarks. However, the University of Michigan does not revoke an invitation to a speaker based on their personal beliefs.”
As such, on the day of the keynote proper, when Dr. Collier took the stage, a large number of both students and audience members stood up and immediately exited the auditorium in protest.
