Asna Tabassum - USC's 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians - is speaking out after the university canceled her commencement speech, citing safety concerns.Tabassum told Eyewitness News that she isn't buying the safety claim and said she wasn't provided specifics when she pressed university officials.
The biomedical engineering student, who will also graduate with a minor in resistance to genocide, said she's energized by the support she's received following the unprecedented move by USC. For the last few weeks, she has felt like she's been under a microscope for her pro-Palestinian views and social media activity. She's been to protests and is a vocal activist - and doesn't regret a minute of it.
Andrew T. Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at USC, said in a statement Monday that debate over the selection of Tabassum to give the commencement speech took on an "alarming tenor." Her speech would have presented "substantial" security risks for the event that draws 65,000 people to campus, he said.
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