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The awarding of an honorary degree to political figures can prompt protests from faculty or students.

In 2001, George W. Bush received an honorary degree from Yale University where he had earned his bachelor's degree in history in 1968.

Some students and faculty chose to boycott the university's 300th commencement.

Andrew Card, who served as Bush's Chief of Staff from 2001 – 2006, ultimately chose not to speak when the University of Massachusetts-Amherst awarded him an honorary degree in 2007, in response to protests from students and faculty at the commencement ceremonies.