"California University Neglects Student: Graduation Address for Pro-Palestinian Advocate Cancelled"
The University of Southern California (USC) has made a controversial decision to cancel the commencement speech of Asna Tabassum, the valedictorian for the graduating class of 2024, due to unnamed security concerns related to her pro-Palestinian views[1][5].
Tabassum, who has been selected for her academic achievements, has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. However, her views have drawn criticism from groups like Trojans for Israel and "We Are Tov," who accused her of using "antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric"[2].
The cancellation of Tabassum's speech has been met with outrage from Muslim civil rights groups, specifically the Council on American-Islamic Relations. They view the decision as a violation of USC's obligation to protect its students and a message that empowers voices of hate[3].
In a statement, Tabassum expressed her disappointment, saying she was surprised by the university's actions. USC, on the other hand, clarified that the cancellation has nothing to do with freedom of speech but is a precautionary action to maintain safety on campus amid the tensions her speech might provoke[1][5].
The move to cancel Tabassum's speech is part of a larger trend. Since Israel's war in Gaza began in October, universities across the country have been cracking down on pro-Palestinian speech and activity[6]. Several schools have banned student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a leading American political theorist was placed on leave from her tenured position at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in New York, after she wrote an essay on how mainstream academia has tried to police how people feel about the Hamas-led break out of Gaza on 7 October[7].
As the debate over free speech and academic freedom continues, the cancellation of Tabassum's speech at USC serves as a reminder of the complexities and sensitivities surrounding these issues, particularly in the context of political activism and advocacy.
References: [1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2023/05/01/usc-cancels-asna-tabassums-commencement-speech-safety-concerns/68003138007/ [2] https://www.jewishjournal.com/news/national/376389/usc-valedictorian-cancelled-over-antisemitic-anti-zionist-rhetoric/ [3] https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/2023/05/02/cair-condemns-usc-for-cancelling-asna-tabassums-commencement-speech-empowering-voices-of-hate/ [4] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/01/usc-cancels-commencement-speech-of-asna-tabassum-over-pro-palestinian-views [5] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/us/usc-cancels-commencement-speech-of-asna-tabassum.html [6] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/04/27/colleges-pro-palestinian-speech-protests/ [7] https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/us/politics/political-theorist-banned-essay-gaza.html
- Despite her academic achievements, Asna Tabassum's pro-Palestinian views have faced criticism from groups like Trojans for Israel and "We Are Tov," who accused her of using "antisemitic and anti-Zionist rhetoric."
- The University of Southern California's decision to cancel Tabassum's commencement speech due to security concerns has been met with outrage from Muslim civil rights groups, with the Council on American-Islamic Relations viewing it as a violation of USC's obligation to protect its students.
- The cancellation of Tabassum's speech is part of a larger trend in American universities, where there has been a crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech and activity since Israel's war in Gaza, with several schools banning student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace.
- The debate over free speech and academic freedom continues, with the cancellation of Tabassum's speech serving as a reminder of the complexities and sensitivities surrounding these issues, particularly in the context of political activism and advocacy.
