The University of Southern California (USC) announced Thursday that it is canceling its main stage commencement ceremony for the Class of 2024 due to anti-Israel protests that shut down the campus.
“New safety measures in place this year will significantly increase the amount of time needed to accommodate the large number of guests coming to campus. “We will not be able to hold a main stage ceremony where our students and friends come to campus at the same time and within a short time frame from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.,” USC said. stated on the website.
The university noted that individual school graduation ceremonies, doctoral conferral ceremonies, and other celebrations and activities will continue to be held from May 8 to 11, but due to enhanced safety measures, students and He warned the family to “take more time” before graduation. .
Safety measures outlined include presenting a ticket to be admitted to the USC campus and screening participants and their bags under a “clear bag policy.”
USC closes campus ‘until further notice’ following anti-Israel protests; 93 people arrested for trespassing
The University of Southern California announced it would cancel its main stage graduation ceremony after the campus was shut down due to anti-Israel protests. (Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)
Critics slammed the move on social media.
FOX News National Correspondent Bill Melgin wrote, “USC announces cancellation of main stage graduation ceremony. Comments are blocked. Brutal for 24th graders. High school due to COVID-19 in 2020 There is a high possibility that he would not have been able to graduate, but this time he won.” A traditional university diploma is not available. ”
“This is truly a disgrace. Hold a graduation ceremony and arrest anyone who disrupts it,” Fox News contributor Mark Thiessen told USC.
“Students, families, and friends are all looking forward to celebrating graduation. Now they can’t because of pro-Hamas mobs. This should never happen in America,” the Republican said. said Representative Rudy Yakim of Indiana.
“Pro-Hamas ‘protesters’ have wreaked havoc at one of America’s great universities. As a result, the University of Southern California is canceling its commencement ceremony, a long-standing tradition that celebrates all of our hard-working students. This is unacceptable,” said Congressman Mark. Alford, R-Missouri, responded.
“The University of Southern California went from banning commencement speakers to canceling the entire commencement ceremony within weeks,” hedge fund manager Tom Harden wrote. “Thank you for $340,000. I’ll mail you your diploma. (Maybe) if I were a parent or graduate, I’d be mad.”
“Surrender to campus terrorists,” wrote Outkick’s Tomi Lahren.
The decision comes after USC announced it would close its campus “until further notice” following Wednesday’s massive anti-Israel protests that resulted in 93 arrests.
Lt. Kelly Muniz said Wednesday night that Los Angeles police arrived on campus around 4 p.m. after instigators of the Solidarity Occupy Gaza protests did not comply with the university’s demands to leave the area. Told. Most of the arrests were for trespassing violations, but Muniz noted that one altercation led to an arrest on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.
CNN reporter abruptly ends coverage of Southern California anti-Israel protests amid hecklers: ‘Disgusting’
Demonstrators confront security guards during a protest on the University of Southern California campus. (Robert Hanashiro/USA TODAY)
Earlier this month, the University of Southern California graduated valedictorian and Muslim biomedical engineering student Asna Tabassum, citing safety concerns after critics accused her of promoting anti-Israel rhetoric on social media. He faced intense backlash after banning him from speaking at the ceremony.
“To be clear, this decision has nothing to do with free speech. There is no free speech right to speak at commencement ceremonies. The issue here is: how do we make campus safe and secure?” “Is it best to maintain it?” said the University of Southern California provost and senior associate professor.President of Academic Affairs Andrew T. Guzman wrote at that time.
“I’m not surprised by people trying to spread hate. I’m surprised that my university, where I spent four years, has abandoned me,” Tabassum responded.
University of Southern California cancels valedictorian’s commencement speech after anti-Israel social media posts raise security concerns
Asuna Tabassum, valedictorian of the University of Southern California, will no longer speak at the school’s graduation ceremony. (X/Screenshot/Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Anti-Israel protests have erupted on university campuses across the country in recent weeks, with many forming encampments and frequently escalating tensions with authorities.
Columbia University in New York City recently announced that classes would be virtual for the remainder of the semester due to widespread anti-Israel protests on campus.
FOX News’ Elizabeth Pritchett and Nicholas Lanham contributed to this report.
