Following the controversial decision to cancel a commencement speech by a Muslim valedictorian at the University of Southern California (USC), the university has announced that there will be no outside speakers or honorees at the main stage commencement event. This decision comes after criticism from various individuals, including the valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, who expressed disappointment over the university’s actions. USC had originally planned for film director Jon M. Chu and tennis star Billie Jean King to give speeches at the event, but these plans have now been canceled.
Tabassum, who is majoring in biomedical engineering and minoring in resistance to genocide, felt abandoned by USC and accused the university of caving to fear and rewarding hatred. The controversy surrounding her speech cancellation stemmed from complaints made by pro-Israel and Jewish groups about her social media posts, specifically a link to a slideshow advocating for Palestinian liberation and the abolishment of Israel. Tabassum clarified that she had added the link on her account five years ago and was not the author of the content. Despite this clarification, USC faced backlash and condemnation from various groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
The decision to cancel outside speakers and honorees at the commencement event comes amidst ongoing protests following recent events in Israel and Gaza, including attacks by Hamas and Israel’s response. USC stated that those who were set to receive honorary degrees may be awarded them at a future commencement or academic event. Tabassum, who had hoped to use her speech to inspire her classmates with a message of hope, urged students to work towards a world where cries for equality and human dignity are not misconstrued as expressions of hatred.
The May 10 commencement event at USC, which will celebrate over 19,000 graduates, is expected to draw a large crowd of around 65,000 people to the campus in Los Angeles. The university has faced scrutiny for its handling of the situation involving the Muslim valedictorian and the subsequent cancelation of outside speakers. As the controversy continues to unfold, USC has emphasized that university leadership will still speak at the event, and efforts will be made to ensure a successful commencement ceremony for all graduates.
