The University of Southern California insists the decision to ban its Muslim valedictorian from giving the 2024 commencement address has nothing to do with freedom of speech.
Stating that “tradition must give way to safety,” Provost Andrew T. Guzman told the USC community in a letter Monday that valedictorian Asna Tabassum would not be delivering the planned speech. While focusing on safety and not providing details about any threats, the letter also failed to make any mention of Tabassum’s online activity that reportedly promoted antisemitism.
The fourth-year student from Chino Hills could have addressed 65,000 people at the University Park Campus where the graduation ceremony would be held. The announcement of Tabassum, who is majoring in biomedical engineering with a minor in resistance to genocide, as valedictorian drew immediate concerns and calls for the university to reconsider.
“Unfortunately, over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,” Guzman said in his letter, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the atmosphere on social media which, he said, have “led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.”
“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,” he added, noting the “fundamental legal obligation” to maintain safety.
“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,” continued the senior administrator, never mentioning Tabassum’s name.
In a surprising move, USC just cancelled its Valedictorian speech by a pro-Palestinian student after her online statements became controversial, citing safety concerns on campus.
What do you think? pic.twitter.com/hkR1Ws8V7e
— Houman David Hemmati, MD, PhD (@houmanhemmati) April 16, 2024
Guzman explained further that he made the final decision to choose Tabassum who was considered out of 100 applications that looked at student GPA and “various criteria – which did not include social media presence.”
The move to remove the valedictorian, reportedly a first in the school’s history, came after USC administrators received letters and communication expressing concerns over the choice.
According to the Los Angeles Times:
We Are Tov, a group that uses the Hebrew word for “good” and describes itself as “dedicated to combating antisemitism,” posted Tabassum’s image on its Instagram account and said she “openly promotes antisemitic writings.” The group also criticized Tabassum for liking Instagram posts from “Trojans for Palestine.” Tabassum’s Instagram bio links to a landing page that says “learn about what’s happening in Palestine, and how to help.”
The campus group Trojans for Israel also posted on its Instagram account, calling for Folt’s “reconsideration” of Tabassum for what it described as her “antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric.” The group said Tabassum’s Instagram bio linked to a page that called Zionism a “racist settler-colonial ideology.”
Tabassum called out the critics while claiming she was being silenced, saying in a statement that “anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all.”
“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,” the first-generation South Asian American Muslim said. “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.”
Predictably, the Los Angeles chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called out the university for the decision.
“USC cannot hide its cowardly decision behind a disingenuous concern for ‘security,’” said CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush in a statement.
But in an interview, Guzman said that “we weren’t seeking her opinion” on the ban.
“This is a security decision,” he said, according to the LA Times. “This is not about the identity of the speaker, it’s not about the things the valedictorian has said in the past. We have to put as our top priority ensuring that the campus and community is safe.”
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Author: Frieda Powers
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