The University of Southern California faces criticism from a prominent Muslim organization following its decision to cancel the commencement speech of its valedictorian. The university cited "security concerns" arising from heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing war on Gaza as the reason for the cancellation.

On Monday, Asna Tabassum received the news that she would no longer be delivering a speech alongside her fellow graduates at the Los Angeles University's celebration on May 10.

In a statement released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Tabassum said, “I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the University is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.”

In an announcement on Monday, USC Provost Andrew Guzman expressed concern over the recent tone of discussions surrounding the selection of the university's valedictorian.

“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 said.

USC reportedly received complaints from at least two pro-Israeli organizations regarding the selection of the valedictorian over " her social media activity".

Silenced for a pro-Palestinian post on social media 

Tabassum's Instagram profile featured a slideshow prompting viewers to educate themselves about the situation in Palestine and ways to offer support. It advocates for the establishment of a single Palestinian state, which it contends would lead to Palestinian liberation.

Trojans for Israel said this “must be denounced as antisemitic bigotry.”

Tabassum stated that she added the link to her social media account five years ago and clarified that she was not the author, as reported by NBC Los Angeles.

Great statement from Asna Tabassum, the student whose words and presence USC found to be ‘a threat to safety’ pic.twitter.com/tzwKEWQvpK

— Sana Saeed (@SanaSaeed) April 16, 2024

As a Jewish parent sending tuition dollars to @USC for an Annenberg student I am offended by this decision. Please immediately re-invite Asna Tabassum to speak as valedictorian. She earned this honor as an excellent scholar and student of genocide, no less. For shame, USC. https://t.co/CuxjsvudHZ

— Amie Wexler (@am_wex) April 16, 2024

In her personal statement regarding USC's decision, Tabassum described herself as a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim hailing from Chino Hills, located east of Los Angeles. She is pursuing a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in resistance to genocide.

Tabassum emphasized that through her academic pursuits and personal experiences, she has come to understand that individuals can commit unimaginable acts of violence when they are indoctrinated with hate driven by fear.

“And due to widespread fear, I was hoping to use my commencement speech to inspire my classmates with a message of hope,” she said. “By canceling my speech, USC is only caving to fear and rewarding hatred.”

Guzman mentioned that a committee chose Tabassum from nearly 100 applicants for the valedictorian position, all of whom had achieved "perfect or near-perfect GPAs.” 

“The committee assessed each application based on various criteria — which did not include social media presence — and made a recommendation to me,” the provost went on to say. “Based on these faculty recommendations, I made the final decision.”

In further detail, Tabassum stated that in a meeting Sunday, “I asked about the alleged safety concerns and was told that the University had the resources to take appropriate safety measures for my valedictory speech, but that they would not be doing so since increased security protections is not what the University wants to ‘present as an image.’”

In his announcement regarding the alteration, Guzman refrained from specifically naming any website or faction involved in the decision to cancel the valedictorian's speech. He mentioned incidents of harassment and violence occurring on other campuses and claimed that the matter was not related to freedom of speech.

“There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement,” he wrote. “The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.”

Canceling the speech is “disappointing,” he added, but “tradition must give way to safety.”

Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism

Commenting on this issue, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said, “USC cannot hide its cowardly decision behind a disingenuous concern for ‘security.’”

“The dishonest and defamatory attacks on Asna are nothing more than thinly-veiled manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, which have been weaponized against college students across the country who speak up for human rights — and for Palestinian humanity,” Ayloush said.

If @USC doesnt reinstate Asna Tabassum, the entire population of Muslim graduates should stage a protest of the graduation and she give a speech outside of it of what a college degree is supposed to actually mean

Whoever wants to join from allies should join. https://t.co/os8c1agrdE

— Hasib Noor - حسيب المدني (@hasibmn) April 16, 2024

According to USC, the commencement event will honor over 19,000 graduates and is anticipated to attract approximately 65,000 attendees to the University Park section of Los Angeles.

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