Keynote speakers for USC’s Rossier School commencement events withdraw in protest

C Pam Zhang and Safiya Noble, two renowned authors, have withdrawn as keynote speakers for the USC Rossier School of Education’s doctoral and master’s commencement ceremonies in protest over how the university has handled recent events.

“To speak at USC at this moment would betray not only our own values, but USC’s too. We are withdrawing as commencement speakers,” the duo wrote in a joint letter to the university administration.

The letter cited three reasons for why they are “appalled at the university administration.” Those included the deployment of LAPD — once on Wednesday and then again on Saturday — which resulted in the arrest of over 90 protestors, most of whom were students as well as the university’s decision to rescind their class of 2024′s valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s commencement speech.

Zhang is a Booker Prize-nominated novelist. Noble, a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), serves as the director of the Center on Race & Digital Justice. The pair were scheduled to speak on May 8 and May 10 for the doctoral and master’s commencement ceremonies respectively.

“Pam and Safiya’s work explores critical issues today,” said USC Rossier Dean Pedro A. Noguera, when the two were announced as speakers on March 15. “Their work reflects on the challenges of finding one’s identity and offers important commentary on justice and the pursuit of equity throughout our society. We look forward to hearing what they will share with our 2024 graduating class of higher education leaders.”

Furthermore, they have called on other speakers scheduled to speak at USC’s 38 satellite commencement ceremonies to join them.

“We call on all commencement speakers still scheduled to appear at satellite ceremonies to join us by signing this letter,” they wrote in their public letter, hoping to apply pressure on the administration. “Withdrawing from USC events; and supporting USC students, as well as thousands of students nationwide who deserve respect, not arrest and punishment by their own universities, for courageously speaking truth to power.”

The letter was specifically addressed to President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew T. Guzman who were involved in the recent wave of decisions as well as the USC Board of Trustees.

On April 25, USC canceled its mainstage commencement ceremony which sees over 65,000 students, families and friends gather at the University Park Campus Center, citing new security measures and the time needed to process attendees on a large scale.