USC bans pro-Palestinian valedictorian from speaking at May commencement, citing safety concerns

Why USC canceled its pro-Palestinian valedictorian

Asna Tabassum, a graduating senior at the University of Southern California majoring in biomedical engineering, is at the center of the latest firestorm on college campuses after the university named her valedictorian, then barred her from speaking at graduation. | Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images As the school year winds down, colleges are still grappling with student speech. Campus tensions over Israel’s war on Gaza have flar…

Free speech fight after USC cancels valedictorian's speech

The University of Southern California (USC) is continuing to receive backlash for its decision to cancel this year's valedictorian's graduation speech. USC banned Asna Tabassum, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering, from speaking at the school's commencement ceremony in May, as the school cited safety concerns. Some Jewish students called for USC to disinvite Tabassum, a Muslim woman, from speaking at the school's commencement ceremony, c…

USC cancels valedictorian's speech over bogus 'safety concerns'

This week, the University of Southern California (USC) announced that the college's valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, would be barred from speaking at commencement. The school cited concerns that Tabassum, who had recently come under fire for an anti-Israel social media post, would create safety concerns. USC announced that Tabassum had been selected as the school's valedictorian on April 4, after choosing her from among over 100 students with a GPA…

USC campus tense after Muslim valedictorian's speech cancelled

The university said it cut the speech over security concerns tied to the Middle East.

Meet USC Valedictorian Asna Tabassum: School Cancels Commencement Speech by Pro-Palestinian Student

Amid widespread repression of pro-Palestinian voices on campuses across the United States, we speak to University of Southern California valedictorian Asna Tabassum, whose commencement speech has been canceled for what the university claimed were “safety” reasons after Tabassum became the subject of an online anti-Palestinian hate campaign led by pro-Israel groups. “When I had asked for details regarding the security concerns,” says Tabassum of l

USC Cancels Muslim Valedictorian's Speech Over Safety Concerns Amid Middle East Conflict

USC valedictorian Asna Tabassum holds a certificate at the university’s Academic Honors Convocation on April 2. Courtesy of Asna Tabassum/via REUTERS The University of Southern California, citing safety concerns and passions around the latest Middle East conflict, has canceled its valedictorian speech from a Muslim student who said she was being silenced by anti-Palestinian hatred for her views on human rights. USC Provost Andrew Guzman said in …