Jill Abramson Backs Out of Brandeis Commencement, Honorary Degree

Jill Abramson, who was fired from her executive editor post at the New York Times on Wednesday, is no longer attending Brandeis University’s commencement this weekend, according to the Justice, the school’s independent student newspaper.

Abramson told Brandeis University President Frederick Lawrence, “I don’t think this is my year to be there for this,” he relayed to the newspaper.

According to Lawrence, Abramson was not looking to take part in the celebratory nature of the weekend. Based on the article, it appears Lawrence tried to talk her into coming.

Lawrence told the newspaper Abramson will no longer receive an honorary degree, as the university only gives honorary degrees in absentia in “exceptional circumstances.”

In early April, the university rescinded its planned honorary degree to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, a Somali-born women’s rights activist who had made critical remarks about Islam, after student pressure to do so.

Geoffrey Canada, the president and CEO of Harlem’s Children’s Zone, will give the university’s commencement address Sunday, May 18.

In addition to Canada, Eric Lander, one of the principal leaders of the Human Genome Project, and Malcolm L. Sherman, a longtime university trustee, will receive honorary degrees.

The Justice: Abramson elects to miss commencement festivities >>

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