The University of Southern California announced on Thursday that it has canceled its main-stage graduation ceremony for students, a move that follows campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war and a controversy over its selection of a class valedictorian.
This week, the university has been rocked by turmoil by pro-Palestinian protesters, resulting in the arrests of more than 90 people.
It was the continuation of controversy on the Los Angeles campus that began in early April, when the university selected a Muslim valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, a biomedical engineering major from Chino Hills, Calif.
Following complaints from several Jewish organizations that Ms. Tabassum, who is of South Asian descent, had posted a social media link to a pro-Palestinian organization, the university informed her that she would not be delivering the valedictorian speech, which is a tradition.
Persons:
Asna, Tabassum
Organizations:
University of Southern California, Los Angeles
Locations:
Israel, Chino Hills, Calif