The University of Southern California (USC) has decided to cancel the campus-wide graduation ceremony scheduled for May 10. The decision was announced by USC President Carol Folt on April 25, following controversy over the cancellation of a graduate’s speech at the event.
According to USC’s statement, the implementation of new security measures this year will significantly increase the time needed to process the large number of visitors coming to the campus. As a result, they will be unable to hold the traditional main stage ceremony that typically attracts 65,000 students, families, and friends within the brief time slot from 8:30 am to 10 am.
“We understand this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebratory events to make this graduation ceremony academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including gatherings with families, friends, staff, a dove release ceremony celebrating the graduates, and a performance by the Trojan Marching Band,” the statement said.
Apart from smaller department receptions, at least 23 satellite graduation ceremonies across various USC campuses and colleges will continue as planned.
However, USC announced that “all graduation ceremony events from May 8 to 11” will require tickets and attendees must enter through specific entrances to all campuses.
Reportedly, each graduate is limited to eight tickets, which are non-transferable. The notice stated, “If more tickets are needed, applications can be submitted.”
The notice also mentioned that graduation ceremony events will include “security checks similar to attending a sports event at a gymnasium.” Visitors to the gymnasium will enter through metal detectors, and their belongings will undergo X-ray scans. USC also stated that only clear bags will be allowed at the graduation activities.
The cancellation of the main stage graduation ceremony by USC comes amid nationwide campus unrest sparked by the Israel-Hamas conflict.
USC is one of several dozens of colleges and universities that have been recently embroiled in tensions surrounding freedom of speech and protests over the Israel-Hamas conflict, with other involved institutions including Columbia University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, and Cal Poly Humboldt.
Earlier, the university notified the cancellation of a scheduled speech by graduate Asna Tabassum. Some critics complained that Tabassum’s Instagram profile linked to a website supporting Palestine, alleging she made “anti-Jewish and anti-Jewish nationalist remarks.”
Since the cancellation of Tabassum’s speech, USC has experienced a series of campus protest activities.
On April 18, students, faculty, and pro-Palestinian supporters held a demonstration at USC protesting the cancellation of Tabassum’s speech.
On April 24, amidst protests by pro-Palestinian activists encamped at USC, 93 students and external activists were arrested.
The last time USC canceled the main stage graduation ceremony was in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic, when the graduating class of that year joined the 2021 graduates for a mix of online and in-person ceremonies.