As the University of Southern California’s commencements approach, the usual grand main-stage commencement has been canceled this year due to weeks of campus protest and controversy. While smaller celebrations will proceed at the university’s 23 schools and academic units, several keynote speakers have withdrawn from ceremonies, leaving many uncertain about the event. The verdant campus is closed to noncredentialed visitors, families will need special digital tickets to move among venues, and bags will be checked for prohibited items like banners and selfie sticks. Details about a party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum remain uncertain as tensions rise among students and parents regarding the handling of the graduation.
Student protests over Israel’s war in Gaza have caused disruptions at various commencements nationwide, challenging universities to uphold free speech while preserving the sanctity of the graduation ceremony. Demonstrations at the University of Michigan, Indiana University, and Northeastern University led to disturbances, prompting other schools like Columbia University to cancel their main commencement ceremony. At USC, the university has faced backlash after canceling speeches by its valedictorian and an alumnus, Jon M. Chu, the director of “Crazy Rich Asians.” The controversial decisions resulted in protests and arrests on campus, leading to the cancellation of the main commencement altogether.
The fallout from the cancellations and protests has left USC struggling to manage the situation, with parents and students expressing discontent with the leadership’s handling of the events. President Carol Folt has emphasized the university’s commitment to free speech while announcing satellite commencement ceremonies. Despite the turmoil, some ceremonies have proceeded as planned, with notable figures like actor Sean Penn and Justice Goodwin Liu still scheduled to address certain schools. However, keynote speakers like C Pam Zhang and Safiya Umoja Noble have withdrawn from ceremonies at the Rossier School of Education, citing concerns over police presence on campus and the censorship of a student.
The engineering school, where the valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, is set to graduate, faces its own controversy as professors attempt to reinstate her as a speaker. A resolution by the faculty council requested her participation in the commencement ceremony, while a petition signed by hundreds of professors demands an apology to Tabassum and censure of university officials. The school’s website no longer lists previously announced speakers, raising questions about their withdrawal. Tabassum, who faced backlash for a pro-Palestinian link on her social media, now faces harassment, with an organization calling her a leading antisemite.
Despite the challenges and controversies, USC plans to host a last-minute party at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, featuring the Trojan Marching Band, fireworks, and drone shows. While some graduates and their families are looking forward to the event, others express disappointment at the loss of the traditional grand ceremony. Amidst the tensions and uncertainties surrounding the commencements, the university continues to grapple with issues of free speech, protest, and maintaining the integrity of the graduation ceremony in the face of conflict and unrest.
