Valedictorian barred from speaking at USC due to antisemitic social media posts

The valedictorian from USC has been prevented from delivering a speech at the commencement event of the university. This action was taken following allegations of her sharing antisemitic content on social media where she called for the complete elimination of Israel.

Asna Tabassum, a Muslim student from Chino Hill, California, had earned the title of valedictorian for this year. However, concerns about her suitability were raised after she publicly engaged in discussions about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza, sharing materials with antisemitic sentiments.

In a rare decision, the university opted to exclude Tabassum from the list of undergraduate speakers citing the prioritization of safety over tradition. Nonetheless, some critics argue that USC missed an opportunity to address her controversial statements directly.

Tabassum, who is majoring biomedical engineering with a minoring in resistance to genocide, would have addressed 65,000 people at the ceremony. USC officials chose her from nearly 100 student applicants who had GPAs of 3.98 or higher.

In letters sent to USC administrators, critics accused her of posting on a social media a link to a website that ‘takes a swinging bat at over 10% of the USC student body and mudslings by calling Zionists ‘racist-settlers.’ 

Tabassum has shared pro-Palestinian views and ‘likes’ expressed through her Instagram account which she has since made private and removed her postings. 

Tabassum’s current Instagram bio links to a landing page that says ‘learn about what’s happening in Palestine, and how to help.’ 

‘Ms. Tabassum unabashedly and openly endorses the link’s calls for ‘the complete abolishment of the state of israel (sic),’ according to a letter circulated for critics to submit to administrators. 

‘As if the unqualified command for abolition of the State of Israel was unclear in any way, Ms. Tabassum’s link reinforces racism with another link, urging readers to ‘reject the hegemonic efforts to demand that Palestinians accept that Israel has a right to exist as a . . . Jewish state.’

But the university has so far sidestepped any mention of Tabassum’s alleged views and instead describing the reasoning to no longer have her speak as being due to ‘security concerns’, the school’s provost announced.

‘While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,’ Provost Andrew Guzman wrote in a letter to the university community. 

‘This decision is not only necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and keep our campus community safe.

‘It applies the same values and criteria that we have used in the past to guide our actions. In no way does it diminish the remarkable academic achievements of any student considered or selected for valedictorian. 

‘To be clear: this decision has nothing to do with freedom of speech. There is no free- speech entitlement to speak at a commencement. The issue here is how best to maintain campus security and safety, period.’

Following the letter, the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Los Angeles has now demanded that Tabassum be permitted to speak at the event while Tabassum herself suggested she was was being silenced and that her university had ‘abandoned her’.

‘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,’ Tabassum began in a statement.

‘This campaign to prevent me from addressing my peers at commencement has evidently accomplished its goal: today, USC administrators informed me that the university will no longer allow me to speak at commencement due to supposed security concerns. 

‘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 went on.

‘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.’

CAIR-LA called the USC decision ‘cowardly’ and its reasoning ‘disingenuous.’

‘Asna is an incredibly accomplished student whose academic and extracurricular accomplishments made her the ideal and historic recipient of this year’s valedictorian’s honor,’ Ayloush said in a statement. 

‘The university can, should and must ensure a safe environment for graduation rather than taking the unprecedented step of cancelling a valedictorian’s speech.

‘The dishonest and defamatory attacks on Asna are nothing more than thinly veiled manifestations of Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism, which have been weaponized against college students across the country who speak up for human rights — and for Palestinian humanity.’

Provost Guzman, in a message to campus also said the uproar over the choice of valedictorian had taken on ‘an alarming tenor.’

The university told the LA Times how threats had been made over email, letters and through phone calls to the campus. 

‘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.

 ‘We cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses. As always, and particularly when tensions are running so high across the world, we must prioritize the safety of our community,’ he said.

‘And as we do every year, we have been monitoring our commencement security needs based on all the information we have and the facts on the ground. We are resolute in our commitment to maintain and prioritize the existing safety and well-being of our USC community during the coming weeks, and allowing those attending commencement to focus on the celebration our graduates deserve.’