The University of Southern California has cancelled a scheduled commencement speech by Asna Tabassum, citing unnamed security concerns after her selection as valedictorian was met with a wave of online attacks directed at her pro-Palestinian views.
“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,” Tabassum said in a statement shared online.
On 6 April, USC announced that Tabassum was selected as valedictorian, a student with the highest academic achievements in her year, for the graduating class of 2024.
After the announcement was published on social media, Tabassum began receiving online attacks from an account named, “We Are Tov”, a group that describes itself as “dedicated to combating antisemitism”.
The university released a statement on Monday, saying that Tabassum would retain her position as valedictorian, but would not be allowed to give her commencement speech. The school said that the move was made to maintain safety on campus.
I will not use this comment to weigh in on the fairness of the University’s decision, I am just going to make the point that USC is a private university and is not held to the same free speech standards as the University of California school system.
Yes and no. Legally they aren’t, however I’m sure that the school’s charter demands it in some form.
Nobody has claimed otherwise, but censorship is still censorship, even when it’s legal.
The context matters IMO. We have universities in this country that require all students to participate in Christian religious practices, for example.