LANSING, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Dozens of University of Michigan medical students walked out of a weekend ceremony to protest a speaker who publicly opposes abortion rights.
Dr. Kristin Collier, an assistant professor of medicine, was the keynote speaker Sunday at an annual event where new medical students are formally welcomed and given a white lab coat.
A video of some students walking out was and has received more than 11 million views.
Collier didn't refer to abortion in her remarks, but she has shared her opinions on social media and in interviews.
鈥淗olding on to a view of feminism where one fights for the rights of all women and girls, especially those who are most vulnerable. I can鈥檛 not lament the violence directed at my prenatal sisters in the act of abortion, done in the name of autonomy,鈥� she said on social media earlier this year.
A , including some of the new ones, had urged the university to drop Collier as a speaker.
Spokeswoman Mary Masson said the university 鈥渄oes not revoke an invitation to a speaker based on their personal beliefs.鈥�
The ceremony 鈥渋s not a platform for discussion of controversial issues,鈥� and Collier 鈥渘ever planned to address a divisive topic as part of her remarks,鈥� Masson said.
Collier didn't immediately respond to a Monday request for comment.
Dr. Joseph Kolars, a senior associate dean, said Collier was nominated to speak by members of a medical school student honor society. He told the audience that she is an 鈥渆normously popular teacher and physician.鈥�
During her address Sunday, Collier offered to students about how to thrive in medical school. She opened by noting 鈥渢he deep wounds our community has suffered over the past several weeks,鈥� apparently a reference to the controversy over her appearance.
鈥淲e have a great deal of work to do for healing to occur,鈥� Collier said.
The petition signed by her critics said it wasn't 鈥渟imply a disagreement on personal opinion.鈥�
"Through our demand we are standing up in solidarity against groups who are trying to take away human rights and restrict medical care,鈥� students said of abortion rights.
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Joey Cappelletti is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.
Joey Cappelletti, The Associated Press
