USC’s Anti-Israel Commencement Speaker

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The University of Southern California is preparing for the graduation of the class of 2024, a ceremony that traditionally includes an address by the class valedictorian. This year that would be Asna Tabassum, a biomedical engineering student. But it turns out that Tabassum won’t be speaking a the event after all because her scheduled address was canceled by USC. The school is citing “safety concerns” as the reason for the cancellation. But why would it be unsafe for her to speak? The school isn’t admitting it, but it appears that it’s because she is an outspoken supporter of Palestinians who advocates against Israel on social media regularly. She has already clashed with a Jewish student group on campus, so they are probably worried about the potential that violence could break out. (ABC News)

Asna Tabassum – USC’s 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians – is speaking out after the university canceled her commencement speech, citing safety concerns.

Tabassum told Eyewitness News that she isn’t buying the safety claim and said she wasn’t provided specifics when she pressed university officials.

“Almost a one-way conversation – and then the next day they came to me, they gave me a call and said ‘It’s unfortunate, but you don’t get to speak,'” Tabassum recalled.

In addition to majoring in biomedical engineering, Tbassum is also reportedly graduating with a minor in “resistance to genocide.” When did schools start offering that as a minor course of study? She also proudly states in her online profile that she “calls for the abolishment of the state of Israel.” 

This is clearly not a person that I would wind up being friends with, but does that mean that she shouldn’t be allowed to speak? I find myself feeling a bit conflicted about this. A university campus is supposed to be a place for the open exchange of views, even ones that some of us may find abhorrent. Or at least that’s how colleges were viewed traditionally. It’s probably better to have one of these pro-Hamas people standing up and speaking at a graduation ceremony than blocking bridges and airports.

Of course, that might not be the correct approach if there is a true risk of violence if she’s allowed to speak. But is there? A representative for the Jewish student group Trojans for Israel said that Tabassum’s online rantings make them feel “unsafe, unheard, and targeted.”

Andrew T. Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at USC, said that the debate over allowing her to speak had taken on “an alarming tenor.” When he was asked if the school had received any threats, however, he declined to cite any specifics. Given the current state of this debate around the country, he should have known that having a speaker such as Tabassum featured was obviously going to create a stir and perhaps even some protests, but that’s nothing unusual on a college campus these days. It doesn’t automatically mean that it would lead to violence.

Perhaps Mr. Guzman should also consider the possibility that when your school offers a minor in “resistance to genocide,” you’re almost certainly going to attract some people like this young woman. As much as I reject everything that Asna Tabassum stands for, I find myself agreeing with her that it does seem odd that the school would offer that study option and then refuse to let her speak about the subject matter she minored in. I simply don’t know. As I said, I find myself rather conflicted about this. But it seemed like a story worth highlighting in light of current events, so take from it what you will.