Senate Resolution No.4 

A Resolution calling on the administration to rescind the offer of an honorary degree to the 2026 commencement speaker, Sheryl Sandberg 

IN A GENERAL SESSION OF THE STUDENT UNION SENATE 

Presented by: River Simard, Class of 2026 Senator 

Introduced: 4/19/26 

Passed: 4/19/26 

     Whereas, on February 12, 2026, Brandeis University President Arthur Levine announced that Sheryl Sandberg would deliver the undergraduate commencement speech and receive an honorary degree; 

     Whereas, in March 2025, Sandberg was accused of sexual misconduct, which includ ed Sandberg asking an employee to “join Sandberg in sharing a bed on a private jet.” In a different instance, Sandberg is accused of having “ instructed a different employee to purchase $13,000 worth of lingerie for Sandberg and the employee”; 

     Whereas in January 2025, Sandberg was sanctioned by a judge for “deleting emails related to litigation over Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, despite being told to preserve the messages”; 

     Whereas, a 2022 Amnesty International report found that Facebook’s algorithm (under Sandberg’s leadership) was promoting hate speech and substantially contributed to the Rohnigya Genocide in Myanmar in 2017; 

     Whereas, Sandberg’s selection as the 2026 undergraduate commencement speaker has led to disapproval from current students and alumni, which has been demonstrated through editorial and letter submissions in the Justice, as well as the circulation of a petition calling for the removal of Sandberg as the commencement speaker. 

Be it resolved, That the Student Union — 

     1. Maintains, ardently, that the selection of Sandberg as a commencement speaker is a   dismissal of her unethical and harmful past actions; 

     2. Maintains, ardently, that Brandeis University has an obligation to select a speaker who is representative of the undergraduate class of 2026;

     3. Maintains, that an honorary degree would be an endorsement of all of Sandberg’s past actions, not just her accomplishments; 

     4. Urges, that Brandeis University Administration explore the possibility of inviting one of the other honorary degree recipients to speak in Sandberg’s place; 

     5. Demands, the Brandeis University administration not award Sandberg the honorary degree she is slated to receive.

Sponsors: 

River Simard ‘26, Senator 

Luke Farberman ‘27, Senator at Large 

Davvian Pagan ‘29, MKAP Senator