USC bans valedictorian from delivering commencement speech over anti-Semitic posts and ‘security concerns’ as engineering student slams university for ‘abandoning’ her

USC’s valedictorian has been banned from giving a speech during the university’s graduation ceremony after she allegedly made anti-Semitic posts on social media calling for the “complete abolition” of Israel.

Asna Tabassum, of Chino Hill, California, who is Muslim, had been selected as this year’s valedictorian, but questions were raised about her eligibility after she publicly raised questions about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza and included links promoting antisemitism.

In an unprecedented move, the university removed Tabassum from its undergraduate program, stating that “tradition must give way to safety,” but in doing so, USC has not addressed his comments head-on.

Tabassum, who is majoring in biomedical engineering with a specialization in genocide resistance, reportedly addressed 65,000 people at the ceremony. USC officials chose her from nearly 100 student applicants who had a GPA of 3.98 or higher.

In letters sent to USC administrators, critics accused her of posting on a social media site a link to a website that “attacks more than 10% of the USC student body and confuses by calling Zionists ‘racist settlers.'” “.

Tabassum has shared pro-Palestinian views and likes expressed through his Instagram account, which he has since made private and deleted his posts.

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

‘EM. Tabassum brazenly and openly endorses the link’s calls for ‘the complete abolition of the state of Israel (sic)’, according to a letter circulated for critics to present to administrators.

“As if the unconditional order to abolish the State of Israel were in no way clear, Ms. Tabassum’s link reinforces racism with another link, urging readers to ‘reject hegemonic efforts to demand that Palestinians accept that Israel has the right to exist as a .

But the university has so far avoided any mention of Tabassum’s alleged views and has instead described the reason for not letting her speak anymore as due to “security concerns,” the school’s chancellor announced.

“While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to security,” Chancellor Andrew Guzmán wrote in a letter to the university community.

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

‘Apply the same values ​​and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions. It in no way diminishes the notable academic achievements of any student considered or 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 a graduation ceremony. The question here is how best to maintain campus security, period.’

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

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

‘This campaign to prevent me from addressing my classmates at graduation has evidently achieved its goal: today, USC administrators informed me that the university will no longer allow me to speak at graduation due to alleged security concerns.

“I am shocked by this decision and deeply disappointed that the university is succumbing to a campaign of hate aimed at silencing my voice,” she continued.

‘I’m not surprised by those who try to spread hate. “I am surprised that my own university, my home for four years, has abandoned me.”

CAIR-LA called USC’s decision “cowardly” and its reasoning “false.”

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

‘The university can, should, and must ensure a safe environment for graduation rather than taking the unprecedented step of canceling a student’s valedictory speech.

“The dishonest and defamatory attacks against Asna are nothing more than thinly veiled manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, which have been used as a weapon against university students across the country who defend human rights… and Palestinian humanity.”

Rector Guzmán, in a message to the campus, also said that the commotion over the election of the best student had acquired “an alarming tenor.”

The university told the Los Angeles Times how threats had been made via email, letters and phone calls to the campus.

“The intensity of feeling, 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 related to security and disruption at the beginning,” Guzmán wrote. .

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

‘And as we do every year, we have been monitoring our exit security needs 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 over the coming weeks, and allowing graduation attendees to focus on the celebration our graduates deserve.”