USC faculty senate votes to censure President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman over commencement

Faculty at University of Southern California I voted On Wednesday, he criticized the university’s president and president for their poor handling of the pro-Palestinian student protests and their decision to effectively cancel the graduation ceremony.

The University of Southern California Academic Senate passed a resolution to censure President Carol Folt and President Andrew Guzman by a vote of 21-7, with six abstentions.

Faculty members were particularly critical of the leadership’s decision to prevent valedictorian Asna Tabassum from speaking at a scheduled graduation ceremony, citing threats against her because of her pro-Palestinian views. Tabassum, a Muslim undergraduate, studied biomedical engineering and majored in genocide studies.

A few days later, the university decided to cancel the main stage graduation ceremony altogether after protesters on campus organized a pro-Palestinian encampment. Folt cited the need for increased security for the event, which is expected to draw about 65,000 people to campus.

Nearly 100 University of Southern California students were arrested by police over encampments as part of a nationwide movement of campus protests at more than 100 universities. More than 2,000 students were arrested nationwide.

The University of Southern California ordered the Los Angeles Police Department to completely clear the protest encampment overnight Sunday morning.

“The occupiers repeatedly chose to ignore university policies and break the law, which are meant to benefit everyone. To protect the rights of 80,000 students, staff, and faculty, We needed to act quickly. We are at a critical time, from Quiet Study Week at the end of the semester to final exams and graduation ceremonies,” Folt said in a statement.

Barnard College similarly passed a vote of no confidence in its leadership last month over its handling of protests after Columbia University ordered the arrest of students at pro-Palestinian protests.