The University of Southern California (USC) has faced significant backlash after announcing the cancellation of its main stage commencement ceremony for 2024. This decision was influenced by ongoing anti-Israel protests that have significantly disrupted campus activities, resulting in the arrest of 93 individuals involved in the protests. The university cited increased safety concerns and logistical challenges associated with hosting a large-scale event under current circumstances as key reasons for the cancellation.
The main stage ceremony, traditionally a significant event attracting thousands of attendees, was deemed unfeasible this year due to the heightened security measures required. These measures would have extended the time needed to process the large number of guests, thereby affecting the logistics of hosting the event. However, USC has confirmed that individual school commencement ceremonies, doctoral hooding ceremonies, and other related activities will still proceed as planned between May 8-11, though with strict security protocols in place.
The reaction to the cancellation has been overwhelmingly negative, with students, parents, and public figures expressing their disappointment and frustration. Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin highlighted the unfortunate timing, noting the impact on students who likely missed their high school graduations in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now facing a disrupted college graduation. Other critics, including Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen and Rep. Rudy Yakym, have accused the university of yielding to the demands of protesters at the expense of celebrating the achievements of its students.
This decision follows a controversial move earlier in the month when USC barred its valedictorian, a Muslim biomedical engineering student, from speaking at the commencement ceremony over security concerns linked to her social media activity, which included anti-Israel rhetoric. This has added to the perception that the university is overly accommodating to external pressures at the cost of its own students’ experiences.
The cancellation of the main stage commencement at USC is part of a broader trend of disruptions on college campuses across the country, where similar protests have led to significant changes in university operations. As the situation develops, the USC community and its stakeholders are calling for a balanced approach that ensures the safety of all participants while respecting the rights of students to celebrate their academic milestones.