USC valedictorian’s graduation speech cancelled over pro-Palestinian stance

LOS ANGELES: The University of Southern California (USC) has found itself embroiled in controversy after cancelling the graduation speech of its 2024 valedictorian, Asna Tabassum.

The decision was made in response to backlash over Tabassum’s social media activity regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The university’s provost cited “safety concerns” as reason to cancel the valedictorian’s speech.

Read more: US Senate ends impeachment of Biden’s top border official without trial

The provost announced that Tabassum’s graduation speech would be cancelled due to “substantial risks relating to security and disruption” at the commencement ceremony. He cited ‘escalating tensions’ surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and concerns about potential threats to campus safety as factors influencing the decision.

Asna Tabassum is a final year student at the USC, majoring in biomedical engineering. She was slated to deliver the valedictory address at the upcoming commencement ceremony.

However, allegations of ‘antisemitism’ arose from her pro-Palestinian posts on her personal social media platforms. Pro-Israel segment of the university then called for USC to “reconsider” Asna Tabassum’s selection as valedictorian.

According to reports, Tabassum’s social media activity included links to a website advocating for the “complete abolishment” of Israel and promoting a “one-state solution” in which Arabs and Jews would coexist. These posts drew criticism from pro-Israel groups arguing that such rhetoric ‘denied’ the “Jewish people’s right to self-determination and constituted antisemitic bigotry”.

Asna Tabassum expressed her shock and disappointment at her university’s decision in a statement released through the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). She described it as a “capitulation” to “a campaign of hate” aimed at silencing her voice. She stated she was committed to advocating for human rights for all people and heavily criticised the university for abandoning her in the face of adversity.

Read more: Paris police evict hundreds of migrants ahead of Olympics

The controversy surrounding Tabassum’s cancelled speech sparked discussions about free speech, academic freedom, and the limits of acceptable discourse within educational institutions. Critics argue that USC’s decision sets a troubling precedent for stifling dissenting opinions on contentious issues.

The decision has prompted calls for USC to reconsider its stance and reinstate Tabassum as a speaker, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling the university’s decision “cowardly” and urging the community to demand Tabassum’s reinstatement.