The University of Southern California on Friday announced the cancellation of a keynote address by filmmaker Jon M. Chu, days after making the controversial choice to further change its graduation plans and ban the valedictorian from speaking. .
The private university in Los Angeles announced Monday that it is canceling valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech at the May 10 ceremony, citing safety concerns.
Tabassum, a Muslim, has expressed support for the Palestinians in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war, and university officials said the reaction to her selection as valedictorian was “an alarming gesture.” “We are taking the following measures.” They did not mention specific threats.
The university’s decision was praised by pro-Israel groups but condemned by free speech groups and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Students and faculty marched across campus Thursday in silent protest of the university’s decision.
Now, university officials say they are “redesigning” the entire graduation program.
“In light of the highly publicized circumstances surrounding the Main Stage Graduation Program, university leadership has suspended external speakers and honorees from attending this year’s ceremony,” the university said in an unsigned statement released Friday. I decided it was best to do so.”
“We are in discussions with this exceptional group and hope to award these honorary degrees at future commencement ceremonies and other academic ceremonies.”
Chu was scheduled to give the keynote speech at the May 10 ceremony.
He graduated from the university in 2003 and has since directed films such as “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Wicked,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical scheduled for release this year.
More than 65,000 people, including 19,000 graduates, are expected to gather on campus for the graduation ceremony.
“This was supposed to be a celebratory time for my family, friends, professors, and classmates, but because of my uncompromising belief in the human rights of all people, anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices , I was subjected to a campaign of racist hatred,” Tabassum said in a statement earlier this week.
The war between Israel and Hamas has posed a challenge for universities under pressure to maintain free speech and open debate, and campuses will be further tested as commencement speeches begin in the coming weeks. expected to be exposed.
On Thursday, New York police cleared an anti-Israel protest encampment at Columbia University and arrested more than 100 demonstrators.
Most of them were charged with trespassing on Ivy League facilities.
Several students who participated in the protests said they also received suspensions from Columbia University and nearby Barnard College.
The school said it was still identifying the students involved in the protest, adding that further suspensions were planned.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “Students have the right to free speech, but they do not have the right to violate university policy and disrupt on-campus learning.” He said he was asked to clear the campsite.
