Xavier University of Louisiana has reversed course and canceled Saturday’s planned commencement address by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield after news of her appearance sparked outrage among some students.

University President Reynold Verret announced the decision in an email Wednesday to faculty, staff and students.

�Everyone�s goal is to have a commencement ceremony that appropriately honors the graduates and their achievements,� Verret wrote. �The vast majority of students want to be able to enjoy a commencement ceremony free of disruptions. Therefore, we will not be moving forward with the commencement speaker as originally planned.�

Students were outraged over Thomas-Greenfield’s invitation to speak because of their opposition to the past positions by the U.S. on the war in Gaza. Before presenting a March resolution to the U.N.�s Security Council that called for an �immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza,� the U.S. vetoed three other cease-fire resolutions proposed by other countries.

In explaining one veto, Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. could not support cease-fire resolutions that do not mention Israel�s right to self-defense; in explaining another, she said the U.S. could not support a cease-fire until Hamas freed hostages it took during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

Verret called the cancellation a �regrettable conclusion� and said the decision was made in partnership with the ambassador.

Thomas-Greenfield did not comment on the decision. She faced similar backlash at the University of Vermont, where she was set to deliver the commencement address May 19. Pro-Palestinian student protesters called for the school to cancel her speech, citing the vetoed cease-fire resolutions. The school announced Friday that she would not be speaking.

Xavier Student Government Association President Chase Patterson, who had written a letter to administrators calling on them to reconsider their commencement choice, applauded Verret�s decision to listen to their concerns.

�We are grateful that President Verret actually listened to our call,� Patterson told The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. �This does make me optimistic that students will continue to support us and we will continue to support them and that the administration will continue to listen to us.�

Though many students and others spoke out against the invitation, Verret said many still believe that Thomas-Greenfield�s contribution to the ceremony would have been meaningful, the newspaper reported.

�We look forward to welcoming the ambassador to campus in the future to engage with our students and faculty in substantive conversations,� he said.

The graduation ceremony is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday at the university’s Convocation Center. Verret did not say whether there will be a new speaker to fill Thomas-Greenfield’s spot.

(AP)