USC cancels ‘main stage’ commencement ceremony
LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California announced Thursday that it is canceling its main May commencement ceremony, capping a dramatic series of moves that began last week after it informed valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who had been opposed by pro-Israel groups, that she would not be delivering the traditional speech.
In ending the university-wide May 10 graduation ceremony altogether, USC aimed to quell the controversy that grew as it dismantled aspects of the ceremony, drawing criticism from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel activists nationwide.
“With the new safety measures in place this
