USC Graduation Held at Coliseum in Place of Main Commencement

LOS ANGELES, CA — In lieu of its traditional main stage commencement ceremony, which was canceled amid campus pro-Palestine protests and an attempted encampment that led to 93 arrests, USC hosted a party of sorts for graduates Thursday evening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

The "Trojan Family Graduate Celebration" included drone shows, fireworks, a performance by the Trojan Marching Band and what the university described as "a special gift just for the Class of 2024."

There event was attended by about 18,500 people, Fox11 reported, citing information from USC. There were no incidents, according to Fox11.

The celebration replaced the usual commencement gathering in Alumni Park, where more than 60,000 people traditionally gather each year for the university's primary graduation event.

Turmoil over the commencement activities began last month following the selection of Asna Tabassum as the class valedictorian. Her pro-Palestine views led to complaints from some critics who contended that some of her postings on social media were antisemitic -- claims she has denied.

The university responded by announcing that Tabassum would not be permitted to make a speech at the main stage commencement ceremony -- a move the university's provost insisted was done solely over safety concerns.

That decision, however, prompted an uproar of its own, with groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling it an act of cowardice aimed at silencing a pro-Palestinian viewpoint.

With the uproar intensifying, the university then canceled all "outside speakers" at the main stage ceremony, and canceled plans to bestow any honorary degrees at the event.

Filmmaker Jon M. Chu had been scheduled to be the main commencement speaker. Honorary degrees were expected to be presented to Chu, National Endowment for the Arts Chair Maria Rosario Jackson, tennis legend Billie Jean King and National Academy of Sciences President Marcia McNutt.

The university said it will "confer these honorary degrees at a future commencement or other academic ceremonies."

Days later, 93 people were arrested following a daylong pro-Palestine protest and attempted occupation of Alumni Park. Protesters -- like those in similar actions on college campuses nationwide -- demanded that the university divest from Israeli-tied organizations, cancel Israel-related study-abroad program and issue a public call for a permanent cease fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

The protest and mass arrests led to stepped-up security and limits on who could enter the campus. The next day, the university announced it was canceling the main stage commencement ceremony altogether.

"We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band," USC officials said at the time.

In the weeks since, another pro-Palestine encampment was established in Alumni Park, and it was allowed to remain in place until early Sunday morning, when police moved in and dismantled it.

As a result, security was high as the university began its commencement events on Wednesday. Additional events are planned through Saturday.

The bulk of USC's individual school commencement ceremonies will be Friday.

City News Service