Reports from campus on graduation day (2024)

After weeks of chaos on campus, USC Commencement is here. With the annual main-stage ceremony canceled for “safety concerns,” the individual schools’ ceremonies and celebrations are underway all across campus. Annenberg Media brings you the day’s Live Updates here:

Friday, May 10

4:05 p.m.: President Folt made an appearance at the Irvine and Young Academy graduation.

1:35 p.m.: All ceremonies that started at 11 a.m. have concluded. The second Dornsife ceremony is scheduled for 2 p.m.

1:30 p.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Annenberg graduates celebrate at a reception with family and faculty.

1:00 p.m.: There were no disruptions to the ceremonies. Several students wore or waved kiffeyahs and Palestinian flags as they crossed the stage- many people in the audience cheered in response.

12:41 p.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Some students have the words, “USC is funding genocide” on the back of their caps at the Annenberg commencement ceremony.

11:54 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Commencement speaker Billie Jean King ends her speech by hitting tennis balls into the crowd. Earlier in the day King meet with President Folt where a honrary doctrate of humane letters was conferred upon her.

11:52 a.m.: Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work - “Because of you (the graduates) this will be the last generation of children growing up the way I did,” David Ambroz, commencement speaker for the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, said. “Don’t lose your hope. Harness it, don’t be cynical. Take action, be inspired and do the hard work to change this world.”

Ambroz, who was homeless and then placed in foster care as a child, has dedicated his life and career to advocating for foster youth and children experiencing poverty and homelessness.

11:51 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - “As a gay woman, I was not comfortable in my own skin until I was 51,” Billie Jean King said after sharing how it felt to be outed. “You never really understand inclusion unless you’ve been excluded.”

11:48 a.m.: Viterbi School of Engineering - USC Class of 2024 Valedictorian Asna Tabassum has just walked the stage. The livestream audio was muted but there were sustained loud cheers inside the Galen Center. Her fellow biomedical engineering graduates stood. Someone yelled “I love you Asna” and the crowd laughed.

11:41 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Commencement speaker Billie Jean King mentions the names of Annenberg students who she has talked with virtually, and thanks them for their insight, inspiration and energy.

11:40 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - “We’d better have fun today! Come on,” guest speaker Billie Jean King said as the crowd erupted in cheers.

11:24 a.m.: Viterbi School of Engineering - USC Valedictorian and Salutatorian have been recognized at the Viterbi commencement ceremony.

11:18 a.m.: Viterbi School of Engineering - As part of his speech, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos said, “The world is in angst and it is in pain. International events take place thousands of miles away in different parts of the world, but we feel them here on our campuses. Through it, you have demonstrated dignity, moral compass, and true grace.”

11:10 a.m.: All ceremonies scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. are underway.

11:00 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Annenberg Professor Gabe Kahn expresses himself before the faculty procession with a sign attached to his back that reads, “free speech + free press + facts.”

10:55 a.m.: Viterbi School of Engineering - USC Class of 2024 Valedictorian Asna Tabassum is present at Viterbi’s undergraduate commencement ceremony.

10:38 a.m.: Bovard College - Graduates and families are lining up to enter Bovard Auditorium for graduation.

10:31 a.m.: Viterbi School of Engineering - Viterbi graduates begin to take their seats as the commencement ceremony begins at Galen Center.

10:30 a.m.: Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism - Families and supporters of graduates from Annenberg are filling in seats under a large tent in McCarthy Quad, ahead of the ceremony at 11 a.m.

10:27 a.m.: Alumni Park, where the encampments were cleared just six days ago, is now a “lounge” with free refreshments.

10:04 a.m.: USC PR reported that the total estimated attendance of all commencement ceremonies is 100,000 people.

9:45 a.m.: Some students are seen wearing keffiyahs to show their solidarity with Gaza.

9: 15 a.m.: USC campus has begun to fill up with graduates and families as satellite commencement celebrations are underway. There’s food, flower stands and plenty of photo opps. Attendees are entering through designated security check points with metal detectors and dozens of event security staff. Those without clear bags are able to opt for bag searches to enter campus.

9:13 a.m.: USC shuttle workers reached an 11th-hour agreement with the university to avoid a strike and protest planned for today. The move allows USC to avert further disruption on the busiest day of graduation weekend.

A USC spokesperson said the tentative four-year contract provides a higher minimum wage, ratification bonus and spilt-shift differential. The Service Employees International Union - which represents the shuttle workers - couldn’t immediately be reached for a comment.

“We are pleased that we were able to reach a tentative contract agreement with our shuttle drivers and avert a strike after a negotiation session on Thursday night. The four-year contract provides a higher minimum wage, a ratification bonus and a split-shift differential,” the USC transportation department said in a statement to Annenberg Media.

8:00 a.m.: Valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech (pointedly with redactions) was shared via student publications to the USC community.

Thursday, May 9

9:40 p.m.: According to USC Public Relations, just over 22,000 people attended the Trojan Family Graduate Celebration in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum tonight, a show which featured the Trojan Marching Band, a drone show, fireworks, and a Travis Scott Cactus Jack hat for graduates.

1 p.m.: During the Student Recognition Awards Ceremony in Bovard Auditorium, USC’s valedictorian Asna Tabassum received a standing ovation while she was presented.