WASHINGTON: The University of Southern California (USC) has cancelled its main graduation ceremony set for May 10, citing safety concerns and the implementation of new security measures following recent pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
These measures will slow down the processing of the large number of guests expected, making it unfeasible to host the traditional main stage ceremony, which attracts around 65,000 attendees within a brief time window, the United Press International (UPI) reported.
To enhance security, USC will now issue tickets for all commencement events and restrict campus access to designated entry points. Updated plans for the graduation will be announced on the university’s website by Tuesday.
While the main ceremony is cancelled, individual departmental activities, special celebrations, and doctoral hooding ceremonies will proceed as planned.
This move comes as pro-Palestine protests continue to spread across various United States universities, including the University of Texas Austin, Harvard, and MIT, among others. – BERNAMA-UPI
