Citing Safety, USC Cancels Valedictorian's Commencement Speech After Backlash Over Israel Views
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The University of Southern California canceled a valedictorian commencement speech, citing concerns for safety following criticism of the speaker's views on Israel and Palestine.
For Context: USC previously announced that Asna Tabassum would be the Class of 2024′s valedictorian. Then, Tabassum, a Muslim biomedical engineering major, was accused of promoting “anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.” Critics, both on and off-campus, cited a link in her Instagram bio to a website describing Zionism as a “racist settler-colonial ideology.”
Key Quotes: In an announcement dated Monday, USC Provost Andrew Guzman said debate about Tabassum’s expected speech had “taken on an alarming tenor,” adding, “we cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.” Furthermore, Guzman wrote, “The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement.” Tabassum said she was “shocked” and “profoundly disappointed” by the decision. She accused USC of “succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.”
How the Media Covered It: Coverage echoed prior divides on higher education and the war in Gaza. Some coverage from left-rated outlets centered Tabassum’s perspective, including a quote that she felt “abandoned” by USC. Meanwhile, some on the right accused her of doubling down on “her views,” including alleged “antisemitic rhetoric.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
USC valedictorian Asna Tabassum stands by views that got her barred as graduation speakerThe University of Southern California valedictorian who was barred from delivering a commencement speech while accused of promoting antisemitic rhetoric has doubled down on her views.
“I stand by exactly what I stand by,” Asna Tabassum told KABC-TV Wednesday of the views that led to her ban. “It is the very values and the very lessons USC taught me that I stand by.”
The biomedical engineering major with a 3.98 grade point average spoke to the Los Angeles station after her speech was shelved due to “security” fears after she was accused of promoting...
From the Center
Is it safety or censorship? USC cancels valedictorian speech over Israel-Hamas protests.The University of Southern California canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians, citing security concerns, a rare decision that was praised by several pro-Israel groups and lambasted by free speech advocates and the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organization.
Andrew T. Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the private university in Los Angeles, said in a statement April 15 that debate over the selection of valedictorian Asna Tabassum to give the May 10 commencement speech took on an “alarming tenor.”...
From the Left
The University of Southern California cancels its Muslim valedictorian’s commencement speech, citing safety concernsWhat was supposed to be a time of celebration for Asna Tabassum – the University of Southern California’s 2024 valedictorian – has turned to disappointment after the university denied her the chance to give a speech at commencement over security concerns.
“Over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,” USC Provost Andrew Guzman said in an online campus-wide letter. “The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include...
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