USC under fire for canceling valedictorian speech

A campus group claimed that valedictorian Asna Tabassum "publicly propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric" on Instagram

(Image credit: Chris Williams / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

published 17 April 2024

What happened

The University of Southern California is facing intense criticism after canceling a planned graduation speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum, citing unspecified "substantial risks relating to security and disruption."

The "alarming tenor" of discussion about USC's valedictorian, on social media and from "many voices outside of USC," has escalated the risk of "harassment and even violence" at commencement, similar to events "at other campuses," Provost Andrew Guzman said. Canceling her speech is about "campus security and safety, period." USC "has betrayed me and caved into a campaign of hatred," Tabassum, who is Muslim, said to the Los Angeles Times. Tabassum "publicly propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric" through a link on her Instagram page, campus group Trojans for Israel claimed April 11.

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Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.