Asna Tabassum, the valedictorian of the University of Southern California’s Class of 2024, has released a written statement after being barred from delivering her speech at the university’s main commencement ceremony. The speech was published by Annenberg Media and the Daily Trojan, USC’s student-run newspaper. In her opening remarks, Tabassum expressed gratitude and honor before the text transitioned into ten redacted paragraphs, reflecting the controversy surrounding her situation.
The decision to remove Tabassum from the commencement agenda followed complaints from Israeli groups who argued that her posts on social media were anti-Semitic. This sparked a series of pro-Palestinian protests at USC, leading to numerous arrests and heightening tensions on campus.
In her incomplete speech, Tabassum began with traditional acknowledgments, addressing President Folt, Provost Guzman, faculty, staff, families, and fellow students. The significant redactions in the published speech point to the sensitive nature of the content that led to her exclusion from the speaking roster. The university’s action and the subsequent publication of the redacted speech have ignited discussions about free speech and the balance between community standards and individual rights at academic institutions.
This incident at USC comes at a time when many universities are grappling with similar issues, reflecting broader national and international debates over free speech, academic freedom, and the impact of social media on public discourse.
