University of Southern California cancels 2024 valedictorian speech

LOS ANGELES (NewsNation) — The University of Southern California‘s Class of 2024 valedictorian will no longer give her speech at the school’s commencement due to safety concerns amid the war and growing tensions in Palestine, the university said Monday.

Valedictorian Asna Tabassum of Chino Hills, California, was scheduled to speak at this year’s commencement but has since been pulled from speaking due to safety issues after pro-Israel groups accused her of being antisemitic.

University of Southern California cancels Asna Tabassum’s speech

After careful consideration, we have decided that our student valedictorian will not deliver a speech at commencement. While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety. This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and keep our campus community safe. It applies the same values and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions. In no way does it diminish the remarkable academic achievements of any student considered or selected for valedictorian. To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech. There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement. The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.
Andrew T. Guzman
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of southern California

Tabassum, who is South Asian American and Muslim, is expected to graduate from USC with a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in resistance to genocide. From a pool of about 100 eligible applicants, USC Provost Andrew Guzman said he had the final decision in picking Tabassum as this year’s valedictorian.

Asna Tabassum responds

Following the news that she would no longer be allowed to speak at graduation, the student released a personal statement through The Greater Los Angeles Area Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

While she said she was honored to be selected as this year’s undergraduate valedictorian, Tabassum said she was “shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed.” She then accused the university of “succumbing to a campaign of hate” that she said was meant to silence her voice.

“I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own
university—my home for four years—has abandoned me,” Tabassum said.

The university says Tabassum’s speech isn’t being canceled due to her political and personal views but because of concern for her well-being after receiving backlash from pro-Israel groups.

Asna Tabassum questions USC’s decision

But Tabassum called into question USC’s reason for pulling her speech from commencement, saying the university would not provide any additional reason as to why it wouldn’t provide additional security protections that would allow her to present her speech. Also, it would not provide any additional reasons as to why it would revoke her invitation to speak solely based on safety.

An Instagram account with the handle @Israelwarroom put up a post on April 9 featuring Tabassum and accused her of posting and liking antisemitic views on her social media profile. Student groups have asked the university to reconsider Tabassum’s selection as valedictorian due to her alleged social media content on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

According to NPR, Tabassum’s Instagram account links to a slideshow that criticizes Zionism, informs the public of what is happening in Palestine and suggests ways the public can assist in Gaza.

The school insists that Tabassum’s speech is being removed to ensure no one is harmed during the commencement.

USC insists cancellation is due to safety

“Discussion about USC’s selection of the undergraduate valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor. 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,” Guzman wrote in the university’s statement.

The school added that it has allowed for open discussions and differing viewpoints to be a flashpoint for conversations on the campus during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

There has been at least one incident at USC since the conflict between Israel and Hamas began last October. A USC professor was also banned for his comments about the conflict but was reinstated a short time later.

USC will host around 65,000 people at its Los Angeles campus to celebrate the school’s more than 19,000 graduates on May 10.

NewsNation affiliate KTLA and The Hill contributed to this report.