Current Events > USC cancels valedictorian's graduation speech because she is Muslim

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/16/us/usc-valedictorian-commencement-speech-canceled/index.html

What was supposed to be a time of celebration for Asna Tabassum the University of Southern Californias 2024 valedictorian has turned to disappointment after the university denied her the chance to give a speech at commencement over security concerns.

Over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor, USC Provost Andrew Guzman said in an online campus-wide letter. 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."

Tabassum a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim, according to a statement she released via the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Los Angeles would have delivered her speech at the graduation ceremony on May 10.

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, Tabassum said in the online statement. 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.

As tensions in the Middle East rage on, the deadly war in Gaza has yielded a dire humanitarian crisis while stoking angst across the world as supporters of Israel and Hamas advocate online and in the streets, many in support of a ceasefire.

The change to USCs commencement program only affects plans for a student speech, the universitys Associate Vice President for Strategic and Crisis Communications Lauren Bartlett told CNN.

Bartlett declined to say what security concerns drove the schools decision, saying, In the interest of safety and security, we dont disclose specific threats around the assessment.

For her part, Tabassum harbors serious doubts about whether USCs decision to revoke my invitation to speak is made solely on the basis of safety, she said in the online statement.

The doubts linger because I am not aware of any specific threats against me or the university, because my request for the details underlying the universitys threat assessment has been denied, and because I am not being provided any increased safety to be able to speak at commencement, Tabassum said.

When asked if Tabassum will still be permitted to participate in the graduation ceremony and what security measures were in place to secure her safety, Bartlett said she didnt have that information. A Chino Hills, California native, Tabassum studied biomedical engineering with a minor in resistance to genocide and an interest in global health care equity.

Instead of canceling Tabassums speech, the university should take more steps to secure a safe graduation environment, said Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Los Angeles.

Even though USC has maintained Asnas position as valedictorian, the cowardly decision to cancel her speech empowers voices of hate and censorship, violates USCs obligation to protect its students and sends a terrible signal to both Muslim students at USC and all students who dare to express support for Palestinian humanity, Ayloush said in an online statement.

Bartlett also did not have information about whether the school considered letting Tabassum share her speech before or after the graduation ceremony, she said.

To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech, said the provost, Guzman. There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement. The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.

While this is disappointing, he noted, tradition must give way to safety.

What a profoundly disappointing thing for a university to do. I thought the California unis were supposed to be better than this? Like I cannot believe this is happening in 2024.

Doe posted...

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.

The quote that matters most.

It's capitulating to terrorism.

To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech, said the provost, Guzman. There is no free-speech entitlement to speak at a commencement.

Don't get why people resort to this useless smartass response. They know what the complaint is.

cowards

USC: "That Timmy guy over at fandom has some good ideas"

Fun fact, the state with the most amount of Trump votes, was California.

I know some believe California to be a Blue haven, but there's a huge number of Trumpanzees in that state too.

Yeah yeah, that's a cowardly and stupid move on USC's part, but wait a minute...

Tabassum studied biomedical engineering with a minor in resistance to genocide

That's an available minor?

LightningThief posted...

Fun fact, the state with the most amount of Trump votes, was California.

texans in shambles

Sounds like they gave into domestic terrorist threats.

This is the fake USC. Not the real one.

Diceheist posted...

Don't get why people resort to this useless smartass response. They know what the complaint is.

That was the most telling statement ever.

Diceheist posted...

Don't get why people resort to this useless smartass response. They know what the complaint is.

they probably heard people say it's not a free speech issue when someone got fired over being shitty and think they got something invoking it here.

LightningThief posted...

Fun fact, the state with the most amount of Trump votes, was California.

I know some believe California to be a Blue haven, but there's a huge number of Trumpanzees in that state too.

Idk what the politics for that university is, and more specifically the people involved. But I thought this was important to note.

I always wonder how California Republicans feel when Conservative media paints their state as pure liberal.

The bad PR from the College Presidents from Harvard, Penn, and MIT didn't help things either. But I hate the idea that criticizing the Israeli Government is somehow "anti-semetic".

Doe posted...

I thought the California unis were supposed to be better than this? Like I cannot believe this is happening in 2024.

It's because it's 2024. Censorship is making a comeback, thanks to Randall Munroe's enlightened comic that reminded people they could get away with it.

The people who can typically be counted on to decry the "anti-free speech" "cancel culture" of college campuses will mostly be silent on this, because it was never really about free speech, but about who you have to listen to.

K181 posted...

That's an available minor?

Yes. Through the school's history department.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

Universities are primarily liberal indoctrination facilities and only secondarily for education.

Oh. Ok.

I know what to tag you as now.

I appreciate when users let me know to give them an easy tag.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

Universities are primarily liberal indoctrination facilities and only secondarily for education.

But this is bullshit too.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/355b7dd7.jpg

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

Universities are primarily liberal indoctrination facilities and only secondarily for education.

But this is bullshit too.

Hope this is sarcasm. If not then it now makes sense as to why you think literally everything on Youtube is fake bullshit created for Youtube (referring to you not knowing that cat-fisting was a thing people in the South actually do and have done long before Youtube ever existed).

Reading the topic title, I thought, "Surely there must be more to this," but nope, that's just literally what they did.

I'll be the person to admit that many Universities definitely do have a liberal leaning, but most of it is out of empathy for others in misfortunate circumstances and how to make it better for them. I can imagine a university with a conservative leaning be something like PragerU that would just resort to, fear everything that isn't white or christian.

Well it shows they have no faith in their own educational system if she is the valedictorian and they dont think she is capable of doing a speech that wont spark so called security concerns. It shws the foundation of thier whole educational system is made of less than clay. It hurts the university more than any safty concerna that they are pretending could be.

Kradek posted...

Hope this is sarcasm. If not then it now makes sense as to why you think literally everything on Youtube is fake bullshit created for Youtube (referring to you not knowing that cat-fisting was a thing people in the South actually do and have done long before Youtube ever existed).

I still refuse to believe that's a thing that happens in the Western world today. If by "long before YouTube" you mean 200+ years, then yes, that I can believe.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

Universities are primarily liberal indoctrination facilities and only secondarily for education.

But this is bullshit too.

One day I'd like to see a 'new user' here who starts off posting deliberately-provocative apolitical topics that doesn't eventually (and predictably) devolve into right-wing shitposting. Rarer than a unicorn with a horn shaped like a four-leaf clover, that.

masterpug53 posted...

One day I'd like to see a 'new user' here who starts off posting deliberately-provocative apolitical topics that doesn't eventually (and predictably) devolve into right-wing shitposting. Rarer than a unicorn with a horn shaped like a four-leaf clover, that.

Unfortunately that can't happen anymore even if the unicorn existed

Also can we please call it noodling and not cat-fisting -_-

USC is a private school. So technically they can do what they want.

Doesn't mean its isn't still bullshit though.

I was hoping that this was click bait... I was really hoping that. No offense to op.

Graduate: "Can I see your evidence?"
Uni: *opens desk drawer. It is empty* "..... No."

Mods gonna mod

Horrible decision on the part of the school.

NPR had a little more context for this. Tabassum had posted on social media about Palestine, and a student group "Trojans (the USC mascot) for Israel" objected. USC claims that that objection grew beyond the college but is very unclear about how that relates to safety.

I just wanted to clarify because stances on events in the Middle East are related to but not the same as Muslim or Jewish identity, so given this context I thought the topic title was a little misleading. For instance, I think in this case the same thing would have probably happened with an irreligious white student who had the same social media posts.

Calling for a one state solution and explicitly stating that nobody should be ethnically cleansed from that state is not antisemitism.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

It's because it's 2024. Censorship is making a comeback, thanks to Randall Munroe's enlightened comic that reminded people they could get away with it.

You seem really upset about a comic dedicated to telling bigots to shut the fuck up.

Why are you so upset about a comic dedicated to telling bigots to shut the fuck up?

Antifar posted...

The people who can typically be counted on to decry the "anti-free speech" "cancel culture" of college campuses will mostly be silent on this, because it was never really about free speech, but about who you have to listen to.

Yeah. We've pretty much learned that most people actually aren't free speech absolutist. It's always been about a disagreement on which speech someone thinks should be allowed.

RetuenOfDevsman posted...

I still refuse to believe that's a thing that happens in the Western world today. If by "long before YouTube" you mean 200+ years, then yes, that I can believe.

Once again, your refusal and/or ignorance of it happening doesn't mean it wasn't and isn't. The show King of the Hill has an episode depicting it that predates Youtube by a year. That's where I get the term "cat-fisting" from, as it's not the technical term, but who cares that's way better and a more accurate description.

Tyranthraxus posted...

USC: "That Timmy guy over at fandom has some good ideas"

I was so looking forward to her speech, titled "Breeding sloppy mommy milkers."

Stupid move by USC. Theres little hope protestors wont show up to disrupt the ceremony now. If theyre willing to walk onto freeways and bridges, trespassing a venue to protest should be easy, peasy, free palesteezy.

Once again proving that the real cancel culture isn't the shit right wingers cry about.

gigageek1500 posted...

NPR had a little more context for this. Tabassum had posted on social media about Palestine, and a student group "Trojans (the USC mascot) for Israel" objected. USC claims that that objection grew beyond the college but is very unclear about how that relates to safety.

Yeah i looked this up after i saw your post and she did more than that.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/16/usc-valedictorian-speech-palestine

At the top of Tabassums Instagram account, a link directs users to a slideshow encouraging readers to learn about whats happening in Palestine and how to help. The presentation also advocates for one Palestinian state, saying that would mean Palestinian liberation and the complete abolishment of the state of Israel.
Although Tabassum told NBCs Los Angeles affiliate that she posted the link five years earlier and did not author the slideshow, pro-Israel and Jewish groups objected to USCs selection of her as valedictorian based on her social media activity.
One group in particular, Trojans for Israel, said it strongly supports the right to free expression including informed criticism of the Israeli government. However, rhetoric that denies the right of the Jewish people to self-determination or calls for the destruction of the only Jewish state in the world must be denounced as antisemitic bigotry.
The group added: All eligible valedictory candidates have valuable work ethic and accomplishments, but the university chose a candidate who publicly propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric as the most esteemed representative of the class of 2024.

So essentially its a compromise. As they tried to disqualify her all together the university just revoked her being able to do a speech instead.

I dont agree with their contrived statement about it but i do agree with the decision. She also seems a little disingenuous about this as well.

I looked and here's evidence the pro Israel groups cited in her social media likes as her being an antisemite
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f7c81070.jpg

... they highlight "abolish Israel" and imply it shows she's calling for the genocide of Jewish people despite minoring in "resistance to genocide"... but the very next clause, not even next sentence but the next clause after the semicolon, is saying the opposite, that people should all remain in the land just without apartheid.

"Compromise" is very very generous IMO. This college apparently has programs studying genocide and apartheid and resistance but when the time comes that a student who took those classes gets great grades and extracurriculars, they back off and say "we won't risk her actually speaking what she learned in our classes!"

X8Azazel8X posted...

Yeah i looked this up after i saw your post and she did more than that.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/16/usc-valedictorian-speech-palestine

At the top of Tabassums Instagram account, a link directs users to a slideshow encouraging readers to learn about whats happening in Palestine and how to help. The presentation also advocates for one Palestinian state, saying that would mean Palestinian liberation and the complete abolishment of the state of Israel.
Although Tabassum told NBCs Los Angeles affiliate that she posted the link five years earlier and did not author the slideshow, pro-Israel and Jewish groups objected to USCs selection of her as valedictorian based on her social media activity.
One group in particular, Trojans for Israel, said it strongly supports the right to free expression including informed criticism of the Israeli government. However, rhetoric that denies the right of the Jewish people to self-determination or calls for the destruction of the only Jewish state in the world must be denounced as antisemitic bigotry.
The group added: All eligible valedictory candidates have valuable work ethic and accomplishments, but the university chose a candidate who publicly propagates antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric as the most esteemed representative of the class of 2024.

So essentially its a compromise. As they tried to disqualify her all together the university just revoked her being able to do a speech instead.

I dont agree with their contrived statement about it but i do agree with the decision. She also seems a little disingenuous about this as well.

That isn't a compromise.

Doe posted...

I looked and here's evidence the pro Israel groups cited in her social media likes as her being an antisemite
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f7c81070.jpg

... they highlight "abolish Israel" and imply it shows she's calling for the genocide of Jewish people despite minoring in "resistance to genocide"... but the very next clause, not even next sentence but the next clause after the semicolon, is saying the opposite, that people should all remain in the land just without apartheid.

"Compromise" is very very generous IMO. This college apparently has programs studying genocide and apartheid and resistance but when the time comes that a student who took those classes gets great grades and extracurriculars, they back off and say "we won't risk her actually speaking what she learned in our classes!"

Yeah they're the ones being disingenuous. Even without that clause, it should be clear that "abolish Israel" is not at all comparable to supporting genocide.

Hopefully this story making rounds online gets enough pushback for USC to allow her speech.

Doe posted...

I looked and here's evidence the pro Israel groups cited in her social media likes as her being an antisemite
https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/f/f7c81070.jpg

... they highlight "abolish Israel" and imply it shows she's calling for the genocide of Jewish people despite minoring in "resistance to genocide"... but the very next clause, not even next sentence but the next clause after the semicolon, is saying the opposite, that people should all remain in the land just without apartheid.

"Compromise" is very very generous IMO. This college apparently has programs studying genocide and apartheid and resistance but when the time comes that a student who took those classes gets great grades and extracurriculars, they back off and say "we won't risk her actually speaking what she learned in our classes!"

I dont understand what this is saying. Did she write this? As in my link they cited a link she has in her profile. She says she didnt write this.

Either way the texts is contradictory saying Israel should be abolished then going on to say both isralites and palestinians can live together.

And you say its a jump but to abolish israel wouldn't happen unless they lose some war and are either all forced to leave or destroyed.

As for the apartheid the lines were drawn in other conflicts such as when they fought off the british and officially claimed the land as far as i know and their differences werw never settled. I think this is very different from africa apparteid.

Either way all she says is this was from 5 years ago....yet she still has it in her profile now. And doesn't seem to clarify it saying she doesn't want to abolish israel or say she would remove the link either.

cjsdowg posted...

That isn't a compromise.

Eh neither side got what they fully wanted and both sides got something. Its the dictionary definition of compromise.

Canceling her speech is wrong. If commencement is not safe, they should cancel commencement.

They just made the statement that their Valedictorian is a danger to them. *Shame*

advocating for a 'one state solution' is advocating for genocide, regardless of which state someone thinks should cease to exist. it isn't possible to abolish israel or palestine without an actual genocide occurring

I think people misunderstand what "liberal indoctrination" or whatever you call it is in colleges. I worked for the University of Washington as an adjunct professor. It's an anti-labor, profit seeking shit hole that only cares about paying teaching staff as little as possible, skimming as much as possible off of grants, and charging students as much as possible in tuition. The reason you see so many foreign students will be coded with liberal buzzwords like diversity, but the reality is it's wealthy people from other countries that can afford the higher tuition rates they get to charge foreign students. Meanwhile adjuncts receive pay less than a single undergraduate's tuition to teach a class to hundreds only to have their yearly contract disappear without warning once it's time to cycle in the fresh PhD. Meanwhile you are actively told not to grade students harshly and ignore cheeting because the goal is to simply cycle as many students through as possible. Teacher evaluations don't matter either, it's all performative.

So what does that have to do with this topic? All this resistance to genocide coursework is just marketing. They think her speech would damage their revenue stream, so they are cancelling it. That's the reality of academia at these places. The right goes on and on about woke whatever and it just distracts people from the rampant profit seeking going on.