USC Cancels Valedictorian’s Graduation Speech, Citing Security Concerns
The University of Southern California announced Monday that due to security concerns, its valedictorian would not be permitted to deliver a speech at the school’s graduation ceremony next month. The student, Asna Tabassum, has received criticism from some student groups on campus for some of the pro-Palestinian content she has posted, liked and linked to on social media. Others on social media and within the USC community have condemned the school’s decision and say that Tabassum’s right to free speech is being infringed upon. “While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety,” wrote USC Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Andrew T. Guzman in a letter to the USC community. It went on to say “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.” In her own statement, Tabassum wrote that she was shocked and disappointed by USC’s decision, adding “I am not surprised by those who attempt to propagate hatred. I am surprised that my own university—my home for four years—has abandoned me.” She said in her statement that her request for details on the university’s threat assessment was denied.
Today on AirTalk, UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh joins Larry to explore the balance of free speech and safety at the heart of this issue. We also want to hear from you -- if you were part of USC’s administration, how would you have handled this? Join our live conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722 or by emailing atcomments@laist.com.
We invited USC to join the conversation but they declined.
Incongruous Identities: Does Your Name Match How You See Yourself?
Everyone can probably agree that the great movie star Carey Grant did not look like Archibald Leach, his birth name. Carey Grant evokes a gentleman who’s graceful, handsome, and debonair while poor Archie Leach evokes…a chimney sweep? Even far outside of the star-making machine, many people feel like their identity doesn’t match their name–like the label on the tin doesn’t match the contents. Did you change your name because it didn’t complement who you are? Or is the opposite true–does your name fit you to a T? Why? We want to hear from you! Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
California Is Desperate For Affordable Housing, But Building On The Coast Reignites A Contentious Issue For Legislators And Residents
The issue of developing California’s coastline isn’t a new one, but a recent flurry of bills has kicked up a longstanding point of contention over how to create more affordable housing in some of the most desirable locations in the state. California’s iconic 840-mile coastline is largely protected by the California Coastal Commission, a state agency created in 1976 out of which came the Coastal Act. The new herd of bills, all from Democrats, seeks to create new housing opportunities in major cities along California’s coast. This move is opposed by a handful of environmental groups, both at the local and state level, who say coastal preservation should be a priority. Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss both sides of this issue is director of communications at California YIMBY, statewide pro-housing legal advocacy group, Matthew Lewis and board member of several environmental organizations and coastal advocate for the last decade, Robin Rudisill.
How States Are Trying To Attract Film And TV Production
Last week, the California Film Commission announced $152 million in tax credits for 12 television projects, including the second season of the Amazon series, Fallout and the Ryan Murphy series, Grotesquerie. Although the economic benefits of tax credits have been debated, many states and countries offer incentives for production companies to film, and the competition for their business can be fierce. How is California competing in this environment? What are other states offering, and how do they go about it? Joining us to discuss are Colleen Bell, executive director, California Film Commission and Ryan Broussard, vice president of sales & production incentives for Wrapbook, a company that provides production payroll and accounting services.
Dodgers Great Ron Cey’s Memoir Recounts His Unlikely Journey To The Big Leagues
For more than eight years during the 1970s, Ron “The Penguin” Cey was part of one of the best infield platoons in baseball. With Cey at third, Bill Russell at shortstop, Davey Lopes at second and Steve Garvey at first, the Dodgers won four National League pennants and helped propel L.A. to the 1981 World Series title, for which Cey was named co-MVP with teammates Pedro Guererro and Steve Yeager. The quartet remains the longest-running infield in Major League Baseball history. In his memoir “Penguin Power: Dodger Blue, Hollywood Lights, and My One-in-a-Million Big League Journey,” Cey and longtime Dodgers writer Ken Gurnick recount Cey’s part in the glory years of modern Dodgers baseball as well as his formative years as an athlete in Washington state, where he was a three-sport athlete in high school and became its first athlete to earn nine varsity letters before attending Washington State University and ultimately being drafted by the Dodgers in 1968.
Today on AirTalk, Ron Cey joins Larry to talk about his memoir.
