After telling the valedictorian that her graduation speech was canceled due to safety concern, the University of Southern California has completely scrapped its main graduation ceremony, KTLA in Los Angeles reports. Options such as ceremonies for individual departments and schools will be announced by the end of the month.
The university announced it canceled its May 10th “main stage” ceremony that would have featured the graduation speech of Asna Tabassum, a senior studying Biomedical Engineering and Resistance to Genocide, who had expressed pro-Palestinian opinions. The announcement comes one day after ninety students were arrested on campus at an anti-Gaza War protest.
“We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,” the university said in a statement.