When USC canceled the main-stage graduation ceremony, Jewish leaders on campus noticed a possibility.
Earlier than about 19,000 graduates walked throughout phases on Friday to obtain their levels in smaller college satellite tv for pc ceremonies, USC’s Hillel hosted a commencement occasion for Jewish college students and their households — a second to collect in unity amid weeks of campus turmoil over Israel-Hamas warfare protests.
“Lots of people have been making an attempt to take these joyful moments away from us,” stated Mark Rayant, 26, who was incomes his grasp’s diploma in inexperienced know-how. “We get to return collectively as a group in a protected setting, in a therapeutic setting — one thing the college wasn’t capable of present.”
At USC’s Hillel middle, a post-and-beam constructing subsequent door to the college’s Catholic scholar middle, greater than 50 college students attended of their black robes and crimson sashes together with 200 or so household, buddies, professors and classmates.
Stress and anger had punctuated the weeks main as much as commencement. After senior Asna Tabassum was named valedictorian, on- and off-campus Jewish teams identified that she had linked to a pro-Palestinian web site on her Instagram web page.
As controversy intensified, USC canceled Tabassum’s talking slot, after the college obtained threats associated to the Instagram account. Then USC canceled the principle commencement ceremony amid pro-Palestinian encampments on campus that ended with two police sweeps and arrests. USC additionally canceled the interdenominational baccalaureate ceremony Thursday evening.
Dave Cohn, government director of USC Hillel, acknowledged that the 12 months has ended below a “very, very darkish cloud.”
“Regardless of the way you view these points — as an individual of Jewish id or as an individual on the whole — there’s no denying this depleted and depressed the ambiance,” Cohn stated.
And so Friday, households trickled in beginning at 8:15 a.m. whereas personal safety guards stood sentry.
“We’ve got nosh within the atrium,” Rachael Cohen, assistant director of Hillel, advised graduates and their households. She pointed to bagels, stacks of doughnuts and occasional within the courtyard.
Cohen stated the morning was a “silver lining” for Jewish college students. About 2,000 undergraduates and as many graduate college students are Jewish — about 10% of the coed physique — and Hillel is a sanctuary for a lot of, she stated, a spot of acceptance and belonging.
USC’s Jewish group is hardly a monolith, together with Jews who’re Persian, Israeli, Latino and Ashkenazi, who’ve extra European roots.
Jewish college students at USC have been amongst these protesting in help of Palestinians and calling for the college to boycott and divest from monetary ties to Israel. And Jewish college students have embraced their very own meanings of Zionism on the college, discovering a deeper connection to Israel.
“It’s an ongoing dialog about how we finest help our campus,” Cohen stated. “Two thousand Jews means 2,000 opinions. And no two Jews are the identical.”
After attendees took their seats, Cohn urged graduates to by no means let hostility outline them.
“We face losses and pains as a campus group, however the spirit of our ambition as Trojans empowers us to transcend these painful moments,” he stated.
Rayant, the engineering graduate scholar, stated he had felt the sting of antisemitism earlier than Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7. He was troubled by the way it had intensified since — together with final week, when he discovered a swastika scrawled on a brick put up by campus.
“I’m not an advocate. I’m an engineer … however typically that you must inform the reality,” he stated. Rayant would later attend the identical engineering ceremony the place Tabassum, the valedictorian, would obtain her diploma.
“Hopefully nobody will spit at me right this moment,” stated Sabrina Jahan, 22, who was incomes her undergraduate diploma in enterprise. Jahan stated she was spit at throughout a Seder desk final month. She stated she’s been referred to as “child killer” and different names.
“We’re used to it, as unlucky as it’s to say, however I’m very pleased with who I’m,” stated Jahan, who had an Israeli flag on her crimson sash. She was essential of how USC directors had not shortly stopped encampments of pro-Palestinian college students from taking up elements of campus. “On the finish of the day, they have been finally capable of deal with it in a strategic means … and I recognize that.”
The unrest on campus and reviews of antisemitism unsettled Shirel Stemmons, who monitored the information along with her husband, Robert, from their dwelling in London. Their son Jake graduated Friday.
“We have been at all times going to return and be right here with our son,” stated Robert Stemmons. “We have been simply hoping issues could possibly be peaceable — not resolved — so this essential ceremony might proceed.”
Shirel Stemmons stated there have been instances when she anxious about her son, the one of the couple’s 4 youngsters to attend school within the U.S.
“It doesn’t assist being 1000’s of miles away,” she stated. “However he was reassuring; he felt supported,” which she credited to Hillel.
Jake Stemmons agreed that he felt bodily protected — however many buddies didn’t. He acknowledged that he has typically felt unease.
“Issues have been stated that made me unwelcome in sure areas,” stated Jake Stemmons, who’s working as a marketing consultant in San Francisco this summer season and needs to be an entrepreneur within the schooling discipline.
The shock speaker on the ceremony was actress and former “Jeopardy!” host Mayim Bialik, who addressed college students by video.
“What a 4 years you’ve had,” she stated, summing up how the pandemic and Israel-Hamas warfare had bookended their research.
“This previous 12 months specifically has been an actual problem, however that is life. That is your life,” Bialik stated. “You’ve needed to shine brighter than you’d thought you’d must … and also you’ve needed to be engaged leaders and defenders.”
