Tabassum, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student at USC, expressed her shock and disappointment in a statement. She emphasized her identity as a first-generation American of South Asian descent and highlighted her commitment to raising awareness about various social issues.
According to reports by NBC News and The Guardian, Tabassum, who hails from Chino Hills, a city east of Los Angeles, has also been pursuing a course focused on resistance to genocide. According to the Guardian report, there is a link in Tabassum’s Instagram account that leads to a slideshow encouraging readers to learn about the Israel-Palestine conflict. The slide show also calls for “one Palestinian state”, saying that it “would mean Palestinian liberation and the complete abolishment of the state of Israel”.
Tabassum, in a statement provided Tuesday by the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. University officials told her Monday that there were resources to take appropriate safety measures but they were concerned about their image, she said.
“Anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian voices have subjected me to a campaign of racist hatred because of my uncompromising belief in human rights for all,” she said, adding that she was not aware of any specific threats against her or the university.
“I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the university is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice,” she said. “I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own university — my home for four years — has abandoned me.”In her statement, released through the Council of American Islamic Relations (Cair), Tabassum criticized the University’s decision, calling it a capitulation to a “campaign of hate” aimed at silencing her voice. She was selected as the valedictorian from a pool of around 100 graduating students with exceptional academic records.Andrew T. Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs for the private university in Los Angeles, said in a statement Monday that debate over the selection of valedictorian Asna Tabassum to give the May 10 commencement speech took on an “alarming tenor.” Her speaking would have presented “substantial” security risks for the event, which draws 65,000 people to campus, he said.
While Guzman did not specify whether there had been threats, he said that “we cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.”
“The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement,” Guzman wrote.
The decision to cancel Tabassum’s valedictory speech was announced by Andrew T Guzman, the provost of USC. Guzman cited “substantial risks relating to security and disruption” as the primary reasons for the University’s action. He expressed concern over the escalating tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the potential for the commencement ceremony to be disrupted.
The controversy at USC reflects broader societal debates about free speech, political activism, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Tabassum’s case highlights the complexities of expressing political views in academic settings, especially on contentious issues that can provoke strong reactions.
Tabassum, describing herself as a first-generation South Asian American Muslim, said her speech aimed to inspire hope in troubled times.
“By canceling my speech, USC is only caving to fear and rewarding hatred,” she said.
“As your class Valedictorian, I implore my USC classmates to think outside the box — to work towards a world where cries for equality and human dignity are not manipulated to be expressions of hatred,” she said. “I challenge us to respond to ideological discomfort with dialogue and learning, not bigotry and censorship. And I urge us to see past our deepest fears and recognize the need to support justice for all people, including the Palestinian people.”
As the commencement ceremony approaches, the decision to bar Tabassum from speaking has sparked discussions about academic freedom, tolerance, and the limits of acceptable discourse within educational institutions.
