University of Southern California cancels Muslim valedictorian’s speech, citing safety concerns
- USC provost cited ‘substantial’ security risks for May 10 event, which would draw 65,000 people to campus
- Valedictorian Asna Tabassum says USC was ‘caving to fear and rewarding hatred’ by cancelling her speech
The University of Southern California, citing safety concerns and passions around the latest Middle East conflict, has cancelled its valedictorian speech from a Muslim student who said she was being silenced by anti-Palestinian hatred for her views on human rights.
USC Provost Andrew Guzman said in a statement on Monday that the decision to scrub the traditional valedictorian address at next month’s graduation had “nothing to do with freedom of speech” and was simply aimed at protecting campus security.
The valedictorian, biomedical engineering major Asna Tabassum, in her own statement challenged the university’s rationale, questioning “whether USC’s decision to revoke my invitation to speak is made solely on the basis of safety”.
Guzman’s statement did not refer to Tabassum by name, or specify what about her speech, background or political views had raised concerns. Nor did it detail any particular threats.
The provost referred more broadly to how “discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian had taken on an alarming tenor” in recent days.