USC cancels ‘main stage’ commencement

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 altogether, which was expected to draw 65,000 people to Alumni Park, USC aimed to quell the controversy that grew as it dismantled aspects of the ceremony, drawing criticism from both pro-Palestinian