New Delhi, May 22 -- A proud father and recent University at Buffalo graduate defied school rules - and evaded security - to fulfill a promise to his young son: walk the graduation stage together.

Jean Paul Al Arab, who earned a degree in criminology, was captured in a now-viral video sprinting across the commencement stage at UB's Alumni Arena on Sunday, holding his son and dodging police attempts to intercept him.

"I ran, that's what I did. I had to," Al Arab told WGRZ, as quoted by The New York Post. "I promised him I was gonna walk with him on the stage."

According to Al Arab, he was initially told it was acceptable to bring his son during a commencement prep class. But on graduation day, the university reversed course, citing safe...