Whiny New York University students are in an uproar after renowned social psychologist and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt — who has argued that Gen-Zers are coddled and anxious — will deliver their commencement speech.
Haidt, a psychologist at NYU’s Stern School of Business, was chosen by the school to deliver the 2026 graduation address at Yankee Stadium on Thursday — with administrators hailing him as one of the “most consequential scholars of the 21st century.”
But an ultra-woke group of student government leaders quickly tried to derail his address, arguing in a lengthy and nonsensical statement that NYU’s selection proves the youngsters are completely “misunderstood” and that Haidt doesn’t “accurately reflect the values and diversity of its graduates.”
Jonathan Haidt, a psychologist at NYU’s Stern School of Business, will deliver the 2026 graduation address at Yankee Stadium on Thursday. Getty Images The Student Government Assembly’s executive committee, which is made up of just a handful of students, claimed the commencement speaker should mirror the “ambition and diversity” of graduates — offering up Taylor Swift as an example.
“In past years, NYU has set a gold standard, welcoming prestigious speakers, such as Molly Shannon, Taylor Swift, Martha Minow, Sanna Marin, David Boies, Sherrilyn Ifill, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor, to name a few,” the students wrote in the statement posted on social media.
“The abrupt derailment from this trend is not merely anticlimactic; it is a regression. This shift suggests an unfortunate disconnect between the administration’s selection process and the reasonable expectations of its students.”
Despite the handful of students urging the school to reconsider, NYU said there were zero plans to stop Haidt from taking the stage.
NYU said there were zero plans to stop Haidt from taking the stage during Thursday’s commencement. Getty Images “Professor Haidt is one of the most consequential scholars of the 21st century. His work has changed the world, reshaping how we understand technology’s impact on polarization and isolation,” NYU spokesperson, Wiley Norvell, told The Post.
“He teaches one of the most popular classes at NYU and his latest book has been on the Times’ bestseller list for 100 weeks running. We’re excited he’ll be on our stage to share something truly meaningful with this year’s graduates.”
Haidt has several bestselling books under his belt, including “The Coddling of the American Mind” in which he makes the case that good intentions but bad ideas are setting Gen-Z up for failure.
In his latest groundbreaking book, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness,” Haidt defined the shift from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood.
The students who voiced objections over Haidt’s selection claimed the decision left them “feeling that theircommencement, intended to be a celebratory moment, has instead become another instance of being misunderstood.”
“Was he the safest option considering the current political climate and his critiques of liberal ideology? Does NYU lack the necessary funding for the honorarium? Were all other contenders unavailable? Is this yet another effort to push the IRL narrative?” the student’s wrote.
“There is a growing consensus across campus that this selection was less about honoring the graduates and more about amplifying a singular narrative while simultaneously averting risk.”
“We believe there is immense potential in this institution and in its leaders, but fear that recent decisions have, and will continue, to cause unnecessary disappointment and resentment. In an effort to uphold the values of inclusion, care, and respect for the graduating class, we respectfully ask for the appropriate committee to reconsider the decision,” they added.
