USC faculty censures university president, provost over Gaza protest response
USC’s Academic Senate, which represents the university’s faculty, formally censured USC President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman Thursday over their handling of dramatic changes in commencement activities and other responses to campus protests sparked by the Israel-Hamas war.
According to the Daily Trojan campus newspaper, the senate voted 21-7 in favor of the censure, with six members abstaining. The censure cited “widespread dissatisfaction and concern” regarding decisions made by Folt and Guzman surrounding commencement activities and the pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
The Academic Senate also called for the creation of a task force to investigate and prepare a report on the decisions made by university administrators surrounding the issue, the paper reported.
A graduate heads to a commencement ceremony at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
People walk past locked gates at USC in Los Angeles as commencement ceremonies begin on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A person finds a locked gate at USC in Los Angeles as commencement ceremonies begin on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
John Logan, who is unhoused, makes his way around the USC campus in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A graduate heads to a commencement ceremony at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A graduate heads to a commencement ceremony at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A student gets off a DASH bus as he heads to his commencement ceremony at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The school canceled their main commencement ceremony because they were unable to process the crowds due to new security protocols following protests. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
USC students show their school identification cards before being allowed to enter the campus on Monday, May 6, 2024. New security measures have been put in place after protests have caused major disruptions at the school recently. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
USC students show their school identification cards before being allowed to enter the campus on Monday, May 6, 2024. New security measures have been put in place after protests have caused major disruptions at the school recently. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Just hours after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared in Alumni Park the USC campus returns to normal on Sunday, May 5, 2024, with many students looking to take pre-graduation photos. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Fraternity brothers from Sigma Nu gather for a pre-graduation photo near Alumni Park on the USC campus on Sunday, May 5, 2024, after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared from the area. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
Police arrive on the USC campus early Sunday, May 5, 2023. (AP photo)
Members of the Song Girls dance team gather for a pre-graduation photo near Alumni Park on the USC campus on Sunday, May 5, 2024, after a pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared from the area. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
No one is allowed entry onto the USC campus during a temporary lockdown on Sunday morning, May 5, 2024, in the aftermath of the clearing of a pro-Palestinian encampment in Alumni Park. (Photo by Howard Freshman, Contributing Photographer)
An officer patrols USC where they have closed all but a few entrances to the school and erected temporary fences near a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at the university’s Alumni Park in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
USC student journalist Tamara Almoayed conducts an interview for Annenberg Radio News on April 24, 2024. Later that day, 93 students were arrested for suspicion of trespassing after police ordered them to disperse from a Pro-Palestinian encampmtent. (Photo courtesy Almoayed)
Monique, of ANSWER Coalition, leads chants as Pro-Palestinian students and non-students take over Alumni Park at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 calling for divestment in Israel over the Israel-Hamas war. (File photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
USC quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates after being chosen by the Chicago Bears with the first overall pick during the first round of the NFL football draft, Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Detroit. (Jeff Lewis/AP Images for the NFL)
Pro-Palestinian students and non-students take over Alumni Park at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 calling for divestment in Israel over the Israel-Hamas war. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
A student wears a Palestinian keffiyeh as he joins a protest at Alumni Park at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 calling for divestment in Israel over the Israel-Hamas war. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
LAPD officers monitoring a large group of protestors, both students and non-students, occupying Alumni Park on USC’s campus Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Photo by Hunter Lee, LA Daily News/SCNG)
Monique, of ANSWER Coalition, leads chants as Pro-Palestinian students and non-students take over Alumni Park at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 calling for divestment in Israel over the Israel-Hamas war. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Angel Rodriguez, right, and other students take over Alumni Park at USC in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 as students call for their school to divest in Israel over the Israel-Hamas war. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
USC public safety officers detain a pro-Palestine demonstrator during clashes after officers attempted to take down an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country recently. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Pro-Palestine demonstrators march at an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country recently. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
A USC public safety officer scuffles with pro-Palestine supporters as officers attempt to take down an encampment in support of Gaza at the University of Southern California on April 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at college campuses around the country recently. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
The situation became more inflamed when pro-Palestine protesters attempted to set up an encampment in the university’s Alumni Park. USC Department of Public Safety officers moved into the park to confiscate signs and tents that had been erected, noting that they violate campus rules. Hundreds of people subsequently descended in and around the park, and eventually the Los Angeles Police Department officers were summoned, and 93 people were arrested.