USC bans its valedictorian from making speech at commencement ceremony over antisemitic posts and ‘safety concerns’ – as the engineering student slams college for ‘abandoning’ her

USC’s valedictorian has been banned from giving a speech at the university’s commencement ceremony after allegedly posting anti-Semitic messages on social media calling for the “complete abolition” of Israel.

Asna Tabassum, from Chino Hill, California, who is Muslim, was selected as this year’s valedictorian, but questions arose about her eligibility after she publicly raised questions about the current Israel-Gaza conflict and included links that promoted anti-Semitism .

In an unprecedented move, the college removed Tabassum from the undergraduate lineup, stating that “tradition must make way for safety” – but USC has failed to directly address its comments.

Tabassum, who studies biomedical engineering with a minor in resistance to genocide, is said to have addressed 65,000 people during the ceremony. USC officials chose her from nearly 100 students with a GPA of 3.98 or higher.

In letters to USC administrators, critics accused her of posting a link on social media to a website that “shames more than 10% of USC students and calls Zionists ‘racist settlers.’

Tabassum has shared pro-Palestinian views and likes via her Instagram account, which she has since made private and deleted her posts.

Tabassum’s current Instagram bio links to a landing page that says “Learn what’s happening in Palestine and how you can help.”

‘Mrs. Tabassum unapologetically and openly endorses the link’s calls for “the complete abolition of the State of Israel (sic),” according to a letter circulating for critics to submit to administrators.

As if the unqualified order to abolish the State of Israel was in any way unclear, Ms. Tabassum’s link reinforces racism with another link, urging readers to “reject the hegemonist attempts to demand that Palestinians accept that Israel has the right to exist as A . . . Jewish state.’

But the university has so far sidestepped any mention of Tabassum’s alleged views, instead describing the reason for no longer allowing her to speak as due to “security concerns,” the school’s provost announced.

“While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,” Provost Andrew Guzman wrote in a letter to the university community.

“This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and keep our campus community safe.

‘It uses the same values ​​and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions. It in no way detracts from the outstanding academic achievements of any student who qualifies or is selected for valedictorian.

‘To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of expression. There is no right to free speech to speak at the start. The issue here is how best to maintain campus safety, period.”

Following the letter, the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Los Angeles has now demanded that Tabassum be allowed to speak at the event, while Tabassum herself suggested that she was silenced and that her university had “abandoned her ‘.

“Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all,” Tabassum began in a statement.

“This campaign to prevent me from addressing my colleagues at commencement has clearly achieved its goal: today, USC administrators informed me that the university will no longer allow me to speak at commencement due to alleged security concerns.”

“I am both shocked by this decision and deeply disappointed that the university is succumbing to a hate campaign designed to silence my voice,” she continued.

“I am not surprised by those who try to promote hatred. I’m surprised that my own university – where I lived at home for four years – has abandoned me.’

CAIR-LA called the USC decision “cowardly” and its reasoning “disingenuous.”

“Asna is an incredibly talented student whose academic and extracurricular achievements made her the ideal and historic recipient of this year’s valedictorian award,” Ayloush said in a rack.

‘The university can, should and should provide a safe environment for graduation, rather than taking the unprecedented step of canceling a valedictory speech.

“The unfair and defamatory attacks on Asna are nothing more than thinly veiled expressions of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, weaponized against students across the country who stand up for human rights – and for Palestinian humanity.”

Provost Guzman also said in a message to campus that the uproar over the choice of the valedictorian had taken on “an alarming tenor.”

That’s what the university said LA times how threats had been made via email, letters and via telephone calls to campus.

“The intensity of sentiment, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices beyond USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks regarding security and disruption,” Guzman wrote. .

“We cannot ignore that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence on other campuses. “As always, and especially now when tensions are so high around the world, we must prioritize the safety of our community,” he said.

“And as every year, we assessed our security needs at the outset based on all the information we have and the facts on the ground. We are resolute in our commitment to maintaining and prioritizing the existing safety and well-being of our USC community in the coming weeks, and allowing those present at Commencement to focus on the celebration our graduates deserve.”