Young Dad Who Brought 6-Month-Old on Graduation Stage Speaks Out After Being Chased by Police (Exclusive)

After juggling fatherhood, two jobs, and a full course load, one devoted 25-year-old made a heartfelt promise to himself: he would walk across the graduation stage with his 6-month-old son in his arms.

However, right before stepping on stage, Jean-Paul Al-Arab was told he couldn’t bring his child due to university policy – but that didn’t stop him.

In a now-viral video, he is seen running across the stage, holding his son, with security chasing after him. Despite the chaos, he proudly claimed his diploma and shook hands with the senior officials, all with his son in tow.

“That moment on stage meant everything to me,” Al-Arab tells PEOPLE exclusively. “The big question that’s been on my mind throughout all of this is: why is it such a big deal for a father to walk with his baby?”

Al-Arab moved to Buffalo, N.Y., in 2022. He previously earned a degree in Lebanon, which allowed him to transfer credits and complete his remaining requirements at the University at Buffalo within a year.

After getting his bachelor’s in criminology in December 2024, Al-Arab began his master’s program the following spring. However, he had to wait until May to officially celebrate his undergraduate achievement.

Raising a baby while juggling school and work makes Al-Arab’s schedule nothing short of hectic.

During the days, he balances at-home responsibilities, remote work for his job as a medical assistant and coursework for his asynchronous master’s program before heading out for his evening shift as a server.

Weekends also offer little rest as he often works long hours at the restaurant and then spends his free time catching up on assignments and essays for school.

As a result, he made a promise to himself — and to his son — that he would walk that stage with him. “It was a symbolic moment, one that represented every sacrifice and sleepless night,” Al-Arab shares.

According to a statement released by the University at Buffalo, Al-Arab “ignored multiple directives from university event staff and UB Police, ran away from officers, and broke commencement rules by bringing an infant onto the commencement stage at Alumni Arena.”

However, last semester, during a practice run for the graduation ceremony, Al-Arab claims he was told it would be fine to walk with a baby, so he saw no reason to double-check.

“I’ve seen others walk with their pets or babies at graduations before – even at other colleges – so it didn’t seem like a big deal,” he admits. “That’s why I was surprised when they tried to stop me and even involved the campus police.”

Although Al-Arab’s decision to walk the stage with his son was met with cheers by attendees, the university said his “actions were a violation of commencement rules, which clearly state that ‘only graduating students may participate in the graduation ceremony, including walking in the processional and crossing the stage.’ “

The young father isn’t expecting an apology from the school or police, as he understood they were simply doing their jobs. He says he wasn’t looking to “cause a scene or disrespect anyone.” He does, however, hope his experience pushes for change.

“Hopefully, after what happened, we will see a policy change letting dedicated parents, who accomplished a degree while taking care of their family, walk with their baby,” he says. “I think it’s time we normalize seeing fathers in these moments. Being active, present, and proud shouldn’t be surprising. If anything, it should be celebrated just like we do for moms.”

After the video of him went viral, Al-Arab started a GoFundMe to help support UB students who are parents just like him. He says he will be working with the school’s Department of Sociology and Criminology to ensure the money reaches those most in need.

According to the University, Al-Arab will not be penalized for his actions and will still receive his degree. “The infant, despite crossing the stage in a cap and gown, has not yet earned enough credits to receive a diploma,” they wrote. “We hope to see him back on stage in about 20 years so he can follow in his dad’s footsteps.”

As a proud father trying to keep his promise, Al-Arab was not looking to disrupt the ceremony by any means. “To me, if someone wants to walk with their baby or even their dog, why not?” he says.