Universities are hiring extra security, screening people entering commencement venues and emphasizing that disruptions by pro-Palestinian demonstrators will not be tolerated as graduation ceremonies approach.

At the same time, they are pledging to respect free speech rights, and are designating protest zones.

In one of the latest incidents, students booed and chanted “Free Palestine” as University of Utah President Taylor Randall spoke Thursday night.

Randall paused his speech to ask the protesters to leave or be removed.

The University of Michigan is expecting more than 8,000 graduates and 63,000 guests at its commencement Saturday.

Security will be tight, and unruly protesters could be ejected. 

“At the end of the day, it’s just a graduation. I’m putting a bow on my college career. As long as it’s peaceful, what can I say?” said Drew Ruchim, a 22-year-old Jewish student.

In a message about commencement, Michigan Provost Laurie McCauley told students and staff that the school respects free speech, but that “no one has the right to disrupt university activities.”

Indiana University’s Bloomington campus is setting up protest zones outside the venues where graduation ceremonies will be held today.

“It’s unfortunate, because we want this to be about the graduates, not about politics,” said Maya Wasserman, a 22-year-old Jewish student.

Northeastern University, where police arrested about 100 demonstrators a week ago, is holding its commencement Sunday at Fenway Park for the fourth straight year.

The site will help security officials control the crowd and limit what people can bring in.

Everyone entering the venue will have to pass through metal detectors at the ceremony, which is expected to draw about 50,000 graduates, family and friends.

Protests have roiled campuses in cities across the United States since Hamas militants in the southern part of Israel began firing rockets into the country, killing about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and taking another 250 hostage.

In the war that followed, Israel killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry there, which does not distinguish between combatants and noncombatants.

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