University of Southern California cancels speech on Israel-Hamas war

The American University has cancelled a speech by valedictorian Asna Tabassum. The University of Southern California has cited security reasons amid the ongoing Middle East Conflict.

Iran Israel Conflict: The University of Southern California cancelled a speech by its 2024 valedictorian. The university has cited security reasons behind the decision. Valedictorian Asna Tabassum publically supports Palestinians. 

"Debate over the selection of valedictorian Asna Tabassum to give the May 10 commencement speech took on an “alarming tenor". Her speaking would have presented “substantial” security risks for the event, which draws 65,000 people to campus," said Andrew T Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the university, as reported by India Today.

“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,” Guzman wrote in a statement.

University faces backlash for cancelling Muslim student's speech

Asna Tabassum is a biomedical engineering major. She challenged the university's decision and questioned, "whether USC's decision to revoke my invitation to speak is made solely based on safety." 

Asna Tabassum said she is not aware of any threats against her or the university as her request for the details of the threat has been denied by the university, hence she is not sure if the decision is solely based on security concerns.

In her official statement, she said that she is not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred but surprised that the university where she lived for four years has abandoned her.

She also added that in a meeting with the USC Provost and the Associate Senior Vice President of Safety and Risk Assurance on April 14, she asked about the alleged safety concerns and was told that the university has the resources to take appropriate safety measures for the valedictory speech but they won't be doing so since increased security protections is not what the University wants to present as an image.

Asna Tabassum said she is a first-generation South Asian-Americal Muslim whose passion for service comes from her grandparents' experiences, who were displaced by communal violence and had no access to lifesaving medical technology.

Neither the university nor Tabassum mentioned the Iran Israel Conflict. The university's decision is lambasted by free speech advocates and the country’s largest Muslim civil rights organisation and praised by several pro-Israel groups.

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