USC Cancels Main Grad Ceremony Amid Ongoing Protests Against Israel-Gaza War

The University of Southern California (USC) has canceled its main graduation ceremony scheduled for May 10 amid ongoing protests against the Israel-Gaza war at dozens of US campuses. The decision comes after nearly 100 people were arrested on the USC campus during a pro-Palestinian protest on Wednesday.

USC cited additional safety measures and the inability to process tens of thousands of guests as the reasons for canceling the main graduation event. While smaller individual school ceremonies will still occur, the university said it will require tickets for all attendees and implement extra security measures, including screening people and bags.

The protests at USC are part of a broader wave of demonstrations that have erupted at colleges and universities across the country in recent weeks over the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Students are demanding that their institutions cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies seen as enabling the war.

Why this matters: The cancellation of USC's main commencement highlights the growing tensions and disruptions caused by the Israel-Gaza war protests on US college campuses. It also raises questions about how universities will balance free speech, student activism, and campus safety as the demonstrations continue.

Similar protests have led to hundreds of arrests at other schools, including 108 at Emerson College in Boston, 93 at USC, 55 at the University of Texas at Austin, and 28 at Emory University in Atlanta, where police used tasers and pepper balls to disperse protesters. "The protesters were demanding total divestment from 'Israeli apartheid' and the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center ('Cop City')," Emory University stated.

The current wave of campus protests was inspired by events at Columbia University last week, where police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment and arrested more than 100 people, only for students to defiantly put up tents again. While some universities like Harvard have chosen not to take immediate action against protesters, others such as Northwestern have changed their policies to ban tents on campus.

In addition to the protests, USC's commencement plans were already marred by controversy after the university canceled a planned speech by the school's pro-Palestinian valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, citing "safety concerns."

Key Takeaways

• USC canceled main graduation ceremony amid pro-Palestinian protests.
• Protests erupted at colleges over Israel-Gaza conflict, leading to arrests.
• USC canceled valedictorian's speech citing "safety concerns".
• Universities struggle to balance free speech, activism, and campus safety.
• Protests inspired by events at Columbia University, with some universities banning tents.