USC's Class Of 2024 Graduates Under The Shadow Of Protests, Controversy, And Tight Security

After weeks of controversy, campus protests that resulted in arrests, widespread discontent with administrators, the University of Southern California’s class of 2024 finally had their moment Thursday night — albeit not how they imagined.

Instead of the typical pomp and circumstance at Alumni Park, which was canceled in the wake of the violent protests, the ticketed event at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum featured drones that spelled out "Congrats Grads" and formed Tommy Trojan, the school’s mascot. The Trojan Marching Band, confined to one side of the field, belted out hits like Lady Gaga’s "Bad Romance." Screens played pre-recorded messages by faculty, coaches, actor Will Ferrell and late night host Jimmy Kimmel before a fireworks display wrapped up the night.

And the surprise gift for graduates: a previously sold out Travis Scott hat.

President Carol Folt did not address the graduating class and their families. Instead, Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni spoke to the class about the “five major crises” they will be confronted with: war, justice, health, sustainability and joy.

“The harder it is for us to feel joy, the more important it becomes for us to embrace it,” he said. “In a culture that is defined by burnout and exhaustion, embracing joy is our critical lifeline. And in the age of anxiety and outrage, embracing joy is our act of defiance.”

Nick Hodge, a graduating senior from the Marshall School of Business, was “stoked” to be graduating at the Coliseum versus Alumni Park, where the festivities were originally scheduled to be held.

“I spent a lot more time in the Coliseum than I did in Alumni Park, so this is going to be more special to me,” he said before the show. “I don't know about the rest of the students, but I'm pretty happy with how things have played out.”

But others like graduate Josie Garcia, not so much.

“While I understand the beauty in protesting and I understand the reason people are protesting and I believe people can believe whatever they want,” she said, “it kind of shifted the mood a little and changed the way that people feel about the school as a whole.”

How we got here

The celebration at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum was announced after USC canceled its main stage commencement ceremony in response to Israel-Hamas War protests and the ensuing mass arrests.

In April, the university also canceled the valedictory address by Asna Tabassum citing security concerns. USC Provost Andrew Guzman at the time said in a statement that “discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor.”

Asna Tabassum

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Courtesy Asna Tabassum

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“The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement,” Guzman wrote. “We cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.”

Tabassum’s selection as valedictorian was met with criticism by pro-Israel groups for what they called her “anti-Zionist rhetoric.” Tabassum, on her private Instagram account, had linked to a website with books and resources for people to learn about Palestine. She also linked to an external website that “covers Palestinian history/politics and debunks common Zionist myths.” Previously, it also criticized Zionism as "a racist settler-colonial ideology that advocates for a jewish ethnostate built on palestinian land."

The university’s decision to cancel the valedictory address was criticized by students, faculty and community members who accused USC of infringing on Tabassum’s First Amendment rights to free speech.

At the time, USC told LAist in a statement that the decision "had nothing to do with the background or viewpoint of the valedictorian, but was instead based on a careful and holistic review of the situation from a safety and security standpoint.”

Then in late April, a group of students set up a Gaza solidarity encampment on Alumni Park calling on the university to cut ties with Israeli companies and weapons manufacturers. They also wanted the university to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The encampment was disbanded when the university called in law enforcement and over 90 people were arrested.

Students set up a Pro-Palestinian occupation protest on campus at USC in the pre-dawn hours of April 24, 2024.

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Brian Feinzimer

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LAist

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The students set up an encampment again but it was broken up last weekend by campus police and the Los Angeles Police Department.

Satellite ceremonies

USC is set to host smaller satellite ceremonies for the individual schools on Friday.

Two of the speakers for the USC’s Rossier school satellite commencement ceremony have pulled out. In a letter first published on Literary Hub, Booker Prize nominated author C Pham Zhang and UCLA professor and MacArthur Fellow Safiya Noble said they are withdrawing because “to speak at USC in this moment would betray not only our own values, but USC’s too.”

“We stand with Asna, USC student protestors, and an increasingly vocal contingent of the American public in expressing our support for Palestinians and condemn Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign in Gaza,” wrote Zhang and Noble.

Tabassum, a biomedical engineering major who received a standing ovation when she was acknowledged at Thursday's ceremony, is expected to attend her own satellite ceremony Friday at the Viterbi School of Engineering.