Dozens of people walked out on pioneer TV talk-show host Phil Donahue, as he delivered a commencement speech at N.C. State on Saturday.

Eyewitnesses say at least one professor and perhaps as many as fifty students and family members, stood up during Donahue's address and walked out of the auditorium.

More than 3,500 students were in the building at the time.

Donahue urged graduates to make sure they upheld the rights and values in the U.S. Constitution.

Some of the graduates said they didn't believe their commencement ceremony was the appropriate time to voice political opinions.