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Important Update On 2024 Commencement29

The document discusses the USC Provost's decision not to have a student deliver a valedictorian speech at commencement due to safety and security concerns related to protests and unrest. The Provost cites the need to prioritize safety for the 65,000 people attending and protect the USC community. While disappointing, tradition must give way to safety according to the Provost.

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FOX 11 Los Angeles
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4K views

Important Update On 2024 Commencement29

The document discusses the USC Provost's decision not to have a student deliver a valedictorian speech at commencement due to safety and security concerns related to protests and unrest. The Provost cites the need to prioritize safety for the 65,000 people attending and protect the USC community. While disappointing, tradition must give way to safety according to the Provost.

Uploaded by

FOX 11 Los Angeles
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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OFFICE OF THE PROVOST

Andrew T. Guzman, JD, PhD


Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Shelly and Ofer Nemirovsky Provost’s Chair
Professor of Law and Political Science

April 15, 2024

Dear USC Community,

At this time of year, all talk about commencement should focus on the tremendous accomplishments of our
19,000-plus graduates, their friends, their families, and the staff and faculty who have been such a critical
part of their journeys. As I walk around our campuses, there’s a palpable sense of excitement as soon-to-be-
grads happily pose for pictures with friends in all their favorite sites. At the same time, we all recognize the
strife, turbulence, and pain being experienced within our own community, and on so many other campuses
and places around the world.

The main stage commencement at USC draws 65,000 people to the University Park Campus. As at all
universities, this is the most exciting week and most important academic event of the year. We seek to
produce a ceremony that unites our community and celebrates the hard work and achievements of graduates
from all our schools and programs. Because of USC’s size and scale, commencement week is also the most
challenging time of the year for our Department of Public Safety (DPS) personnel, who work tirelessly and
effectively to keep our campuses the safe places that they are.

The Office of the Provost is involved in commencement in many ways, including the selection of our
undergraduate valedictorian. Unfortunately, over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection
of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor. 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. We
cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.

As always, and particularly when tensions are running so high across the world, we must prioritize the
safety of our community. And as we do every year, we have been monitoring our commencement security
needs based on all the information we have and the facts on the ground. Our DPS and expert campus safety
team are uniquely prepared to evaluate potential threats, and we have consulted with them about the current
situation, taking into account everything we know about our reality, as well as the unprecedented risks we
are seeing at other campuses and across the world. We are resolute in our commitment to maintain and
prioritize the existing safety and well-being of our USC community during the coming weeks, and allowing
those attending commencement to focus on the celebration our graduates deserve.

After careful consideration, we have decided that our student valedictorian will not deliver a speech at
commencement. While this is disappointing, tradition must give way to safety. This decision is not only
necessary to maintain the safety of our campus and students, but is consistent with the fundamental legal
obligation – including the expectations of federal regulators – that universities act to protect students and
keep our campus community safe. It applies the same values and criteria that we have used in the past to
guide our actions. In no way does it diminish the remarkable academic achievements of any student
considered or selected for valedictorian. 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.

University of Southern California


3551 Trousdale Parkway, Suite 102, Los Angeles, California 90089-4019 • Tel: 213 740 2101 • [email protected] • www.provost.usc.edu
Important update on 2024 commencement
April 15, 2024
Page 2

Many have asked about the process for selecting the valedictorian. As has been true throughout USC’s
history, the provost’s office managed the process. The first step was the appointment of faculty members to
the Valedictorian and Salutatorian Selection Committee. This year the committee evaluated nearly 100
applications submitted from among the more than 200 graduating seniors who qualified for consideration
based on their GPAs. The committee assessed each application based on various criteria – which did not
include social media presence – and made a recommendation to me. Based on these faculty
recommendations, I made the final decision.

This summer, I will work with the faculty to reconsider how best to recognize and celebrate the incredible
achievements of our most outstanding undergraduate students. Many large universities like USC, for
example, have moved away from selecting a single valedictorian from the many who are qualified, in favor
of more inclusive processes and traditions.

At a time when there is so much discord in the world around us, it has never been more important for us to
come together as a community, embrace our Unifying Values, and celebrate our individual and collective
achievements. Commencement will be an opportunity for us to do just that, and President Folt and I very
much look forward to seeing and celebrating with you there.

Sincerely,

Andrew T. Guzman
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

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