Last week, an Indian-American student who had been selected to speak at Harvard University’s graduation went off course to criticize the school for allegedly punishing her fellow students for their activism.

Shruthi Kumar, a graduate, was one of three students who, as the result of an annual competition held by the university, were chosen to speak at the commencement.

In her “The Power of Not Knowing” speech, Kumar pulled out a slip of paper with unscripted remarks stashed up her crimson gown sleeve.

As I stand here today, I must take a moment to recognise my peers—the 13 undergraduates in the class of 2024 who will not graduate today,” Kumar said, sharply reprimanding the university leaders. She was referring to the 13 students who participated in campus pro-Palestinian protests and were punished.

“I am deeply disappointed by the intolerance for freedom of speech and their right to civil disobedience on the campus,” she was quoted as saying. “The students have spoken. The faculty have spoken. Harvard, do you hear us?” she said, repeating “Harvard, do you hear us?”

Ahead of her speech, she had told the Harvard Gazette that her remarks would be about the “conscious shift you must make” to adapt in times of uncertainty, the Daily Beast reported.