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USC cancels valedictorian's graduation speech after anti-Israel social media posts, security concerns emerge
Fox News ^ | 4/16/24 | Nikolas Lanum

Posted on 04/16/2024 9:59:03 PM PDT by Libloather

A Muslim University of Southern California (USC) valedictorian has been barred from giving a speech at the school's graduation ceremony following a series of social media posts she allegedly made about Israel.

A spokesperson for the college directed Fox News Digital to information posted on the provost office website, which announced that Asna Tabassum will not deliver her speech at the ceremony that draws 65,000 people to the University Park Campus.

"While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety. 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," Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew T. Guzman wrote.

Guzman also revealed he will work with faculty to reconsider how best to recognize undergraduate students' achievements, noting that many large universities have stopped selecting a single 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," he stressed.

Tabassum is a biomedical engineering major chosen from nearly 100 student applicants with GPAs equal to or greater than 3.98.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Conspiracy; Education; Local News
KEYWORDS: california; domesticenemies; education; graduation; israel; security; socialmedia; usc
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To: for-q-clinton
That's a ridiculous comparison!

Being pro-Trump is the SAME thing as as posting DEATH TO AMERICA or KILL ALL JEWS on social media? Are you serious?

It is highly doubtful, in this day and age, that ANY college graduating senior, who is the valedictorian, in ANY college or university is going to make a speech about Trump. The opposite is true of a rabid Muslim anti-Semite, who is more than likely to insert DEATH TO AMERICA and/or DEATH TO ALL JEWS/ISRAEL MUST BE DESTROYED.

21 posted on 04/16/2024 11:37:31 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: for-q-clinton

And FYI...it’s not a he, it’s a SHE!


22 posted on 04/16/2024 11:38:17 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: nopardons

My point is yes to the democrats it is the same thing if not worse. So you’re saying that free speech should be controlled and gov’t hold people “accountable” for their previous speech. Your argument is the same as the democrats. Free Speech needs to be controlled.


23 posted on 04/16/2024 11:38:59 PM PDT by for-q-clinton (Cancel Culture IS fascism...Let's start calling it that!)
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To: for-q-clinton
There's "free speech" and then there's screaming FIRE in a crowded theatre, which is NOT "free speech" at all, when there is no fire!

My argument is rock solid based on FACT; your assumptions about "free speech" are based on your emotions, though yes, at many college and universities Trump supporters would be harassed at best and worse to happen to them, valedictorian or the lowest grade level in the graduating class. But THAT is NOT what this threads is about!

24 posted on 04/16/2024 11:44:17 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: married21; dayglored
It doesn't matter if a university is "private." If it accepts government support (which includes student loan guarantees) that it falls under some government restrictions.

This is why some conservative colleges (e.g., Hillsdale College) refuse federal student loan money.

25 posted on 04/17/2024 2:16:14 AM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Libloather

I had to read the opening twice; I had never heard of the Muslim University of Southern California before. That the idea didn’t surprise me says volumes about society today.


26 posted on 04/17/2024 2:54:36 AM PDT by chajin ("There is no other name under heaven given among people by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12)
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To: Reno89519

I bet you we paid for that degree - all books, tuition, housing, extra money, medical.

Every single penny while America students are permanently destroyed with college debt.


27 posted on 04/17/2024 3:10:58 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: for-q-clinton

“ I don’t agree with him, but he should have the right to make his speech.”

He does. That does not obligate the school to give him a platform. He’s perfectly free to stand in a street corner somewhere.

L


28 posted on 04/17/2024 3:13:00 AM PDT by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: Libloather
Freedom of speech is freedom of speech. Yeah, I know legally that only applies to government suppression of speech and this is a private college. But that is not the point. She should be allowed to say whatever she wants. Of course those in the audience are free to boo, shout her down or walk out.
29 posted on 04/17/2024 3:24:12 AM PDT by Sir_Humphrey (The “only Trumpers” are just as damaging to the conservative cause as are the “never Trumpers”)
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To: nopardons
There's "free speech" and then there's screaming FIRE in a crowded theatre, which is NOT "free speech" at all, when there is no fire!

That's the argument leftists use when they keep conservatives from speaking on campuses. I get that here is a gray area in this argument but the answer, IMO. is more speech not less. And yeah, it's fine to boo, shout her down, turn your back on her during the speech or simply walk out.

30 posted on 04/17/2024 3:29:15 AM PDT by Sir_Humphrey (The “only Trumpers” are just as damaging to the conservative cause as are the “never Trumpers”)
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To: jimwatx
She’s Malaysian

75% of Malaysia's adults self-identify as Muslim.

31 posted on 04/17/2024 3:37:45 AM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: Libloather

I’m still thinking if the Squid put their hands on the Constitution when they were sworn in, we the people arrest them for sedition.


32 posted on 04/17/2024 3:49:37 AM PDT by EQAndyBuzz (If it's Boeing, I ain't going!)
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To: Libloather

They had a chance to nip this in the bu by arresting antifa and blm.

Now, they have a bigger mess


33 posted on 04/17/2024 3:50:33 AM PDT by Steven Tyler (Who in their )
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To: Libloather

...including the expectations of federal regulators ...

Feds manufacture and spread fear
Then, promise to delivery safety

Feds manufacture and spread fear to give the illusion of safety
Then, promise, this time, to delivery safety

Repeat again and agin into the future


34 posted on 04/17/2024 3:56:46 AM PDT by Steven Tyler (Who in their )
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To: Libloather

she claims to have earned a minor in “resistance to genocide”

considering her endorsement of genocide against Israelis, a serious look at the USC academic program should be made


35 posted on 04/17/2024 3:59:59 AM PDT by ChronicMA
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To: Libloather

Lawsuit incoming...


36 posted on 04/17/2024 5:40:25 AM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: for-q-clinton

Screw that! Trump is muzzled, why not this db?
You know, insighting hated and stuff.
American hating, but will take an American university degree more than likely.


37 posted on 04/17/2024 6:15:09 AM PDT by bantam
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To: Lurker

FYI to all: Asna Tabassum is a ‘She’
https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/14672555_usc-valedictorian-TN-img.jpg

and an American citizen.


38 posted on 04/17/2024 6:26:22 AM PDT by Ladybird99
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To: Lurker

FYI to all: Asna Tabassum is a ‘She’
https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/14672555_usc-valedictorian-TN-img.jpg

and an American citizen.


39 posted on 04/17/2024 6:26:22 AM PDT by Ladybird99
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To: Sir_Humphrey
No, I was and still am referring to what goes back to the early part of the 20oth century, not the insanity of today.

And speech, which can "incite" harmful, violent physical reactions is NOT deemed "free speech".

We have seen, especially on college campuses, how these anti-Semitic/anti-Israel protests have indeed incited VIOLENT actions.

Regular people have hit the point now, what with the protestors stopping traffic on bridges and highways, invading companies, and now even subways in NYC, where it is possible that should that girl give an incendiary speech at graduation, someone just might over react, as a graduation in America is NO PLACE for such protestations.

Also, that university would be liable, for allowing her to say an anti-America, anti-Semitic, Anti-Jewish trope, IF a person/s decided to sue them for allowing that to be said.

This is NOT a "leftist argument"; sadly, it is what it is in today's society.

And you're just concerned about YOU being shutdown for saying "LETS GO BRANDEN" , or worse, by some lefty or group, in public or in a written message, which is quite different from this situation with a captive audience, there to enjoy/celebrate a happy institutional occasion.

40 posted on 04/17/2024 10:55:08 AM PDT by nopardons
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