Kennesaw State University student Brandon Moore was removed from his graduation ceremony after holding a sign that read “black studies matter” and “I am a product of black studies.”
On May 9th, the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences college graduation ceremony was held, where graduate Brandon Moore was kicked out after holding up a sign that read “black studies matter” and “I am a product of black studies.” Many students and faculty of KSU have protested similarly in light of the recent removal of the black studies and philosophy major.
In a tik tok posted by Maiteezy with around 200,000 views, Moore was seen walking onto stage and following the other students. When the camera was on him, he opened the sign and the audience cheered for him. Then, the cameras turned off and he was escorted off the stage by administration.
Moore is a Media and Entertainment major and runs various Instagram accounts, including College World Inc., where college students around the Atlanta area find information on college life and activities. With approximately 6,000 followers, College World Inc has faced controversy in and out of the KSU campus.
In an interview with the Sentinel, Moore explains his thought process about the event. “I told myself that I didn’t want to raise a degree [at the ceremony], I wanted to raise my beliefs.” He continued, “I wanted to show the world what Kennesaw has been hiding.”
He also said that he wanted to use this event to “let the community know to never fear the unknown. We are the new society, so why not change it.”
This event does not stand alone, many other students, alumni and faculty have voiced dissent against KSU ending the black studies major. A student-led petition concerning this, among other issues, has been supported by notable organizations like the Georgia NAACP, Northwest Georgia mutual aid collective, 50501 Georgia, Cobb County School Board member Lero Tre Hutchins, State representative Gabriel Sancgez and more. The petition has approximately 585 signatures, though the number continues to grow every day.
On Moore’s College World Inc. instagram account, people commented on the video of him being removed, saying “The way they [KSU administrators] grabbed him was unnecessary” and “Why was he treated like a criminal?”
The official KSU instagram account is also being filled with comments in support of him, such as “KSU is actively cutting social programs and then escorting student off the stage when they actually try to speak out against it” as well as “‘Be the Change,’ [referring to a quote KSU posted], your hypocrisy is showing.”
The Sentinel plans to continue monitoring the situation of these changes at Kennesaw State University, including interviewing key players who are shaping these new policies.
