The pro-Palestinian class valedictorian shares her thoughts on the campus authorities cancelling her May 10 graduation ceremony speech.
Asna Tabassum did everything right. The 21-year-old first-generation South Asian American Muslim excelled in school as a biomedical engineering student. In between charity work and pursuing her main degree, she also found time to pursue a minor in resistance to genocide studies.
Part of that honour entails giving a speech to 19,000 of her peers, as well as an anticipated 65,000 spectators, at a ceremony on May 10., school leaders recently rescinded this opportunity. Since it was announced that Tabassum would be the valedictorian, pro-Israeli groups have been lobbying the university to remove her, saying she is anti-Semitic and pro-Hamas.can never take away the fact that YOU ARE the valedictorian.
TRT WORLD: When were you awarded the honour of valedictorian? What did that feel like? And after you were told the speech wouldn’t be happening, how have you been feeling?I was awarded valedictorian on April 2nd during USC’s Academic Honors Convocation. It was a humbling honour for my work to be recognized, but I also understood it as a victory for many people— for hijabis, Muslims, South Asians, first-generation Americans, to mention just a few. From the outset, this was bigger than just me.
What has been the reaction of your school community to the cancellation of your speech? Peers/teachers? Do you feel supported during all of this?I feel an overwhelming sense of support from my peers as well as faculty and staff. We’re sparking some important conversations about our values at a magnitude I never dreamed of— from home here in Los Angeles to as far as South Africa.
Turkey Middle East Africa Europe China Us Germany News Breaking News Context Explainer Opinion Economy Business Trends Humans Globalisation Russia Rt Trt Trt World Journalism Human Interest
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pro-Palestinian Valedictorian Continues to Speak Out After USC Canceled Her Graduation SpeechSince 2007, Jezebel has been the Internet's most treasured source for everything celebrities, sex, and politics...with teeth.
Read more »
Pro-Palestinian valedictorian speaks out after USC cancels commencement speechAsna Tabassum - USC's 2024 valedictorian who has publicly supported Palestinians - is speaking out after the university canceled her commencement speech, citing safety concerns.
Read more »
Pro-Palestinian valedictorian speaks out after USC cancels speechAsna Tabassum was set to speak at the University of Southern California's commencement ceremony, but the offer was rescinded.
Read more »
USC cancels Pro-Palestinian valedictorian's speech over safety concernsThe announcement comes as other elite universities' responses to discrimination are questioned.
Read more »
USC cancels pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s graduation speech, citing safety concernsThe valedictorian at USC, Asna Tabassum, will not be allowed to deliver her commencement speech next month due to security concerns stemming from her pro-Palestinian views, USC officials announced.
Read more »
USC cuts pro-Palestinian valedictorian's speech over safety concernsThe university said the decision 'has nothing to do with freedom of speech,' but the student and advocacy groups say it's a silencing.
Read more »