In a head-spinning move straight outta left field, the University of Southern California has driven a stake through the heart of its marquee graduation gala. The bombshell cancellation comes as the campus remains gripped by roiling protests over the raging Israel-Hamas conflict down Gaza way.
The elite West Coast institution abruptly axed its main commencement ceremonial set for May 10th, dropping the stunner on Thursday – just a day after the LAPD bergadgets cuffed over 90 protest rabble-rousers for refusing to disperse from university grounds.
But don’t rake those caps and gowns over the coals just yet, soon-to-be-alumni. In an olive branch move, USC has vowed to keep the mortarboard party rocking with a veritable smorgasbord of smaller school-specific shindigs where grads can collect their hard-earned diplomas one by one.
The shocking cancellation lands hot on the heels of the university scrapping a commencement speech by its pro-Palestinian valedictorian amid bubbling security concerns. In their statement, campus honchos aired “disappointment” but insisted pulling the rip cord was a bitter pill to swallow to “make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable and uniquely USC.”
Among the proposed consolation prizes? Designated schmooze zones to congregate with loved ones, the ceremonial release of doves, and live performances by the Trojan Marching Band to keep spirits sky-high.
The campus powder keg was lit on Wednesday night as the LAPD’s finest swarmed in to cuff over 90 trespassers participating in unauthorized, off-the-ranch Gaza protests. One particularly unruly rebel even allegedly upped the ante by wielding a deadly weapon, sources say.
As tensions simmer, USC is now scrambling to strike a balance between honoring its newest graduating class and maintaining a secure environment amid the polarizing geopolitical storm. While disappointment reigns, the cancellation makes one thing crystal clear – when it comes to Gaza, the only certainty is uncertainty.
