Academic Senate resolution calls for investigation into campus events related to Middle East conflict
Controversies include cancellation of commencement speeches and handling of pro-Palestinian protests
USC President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman censured by Academic Senate
The University of Southern California (USC) has been embroiled in controversy following the censuring of its president, Carol Folt, and provost, Andrew Guzman by the USC Academic Senate. The censure came after a series of contentious events leading up to the cancellation of commencement ceremonies.
The first point of contention was the removal of valedictorian Asna Tabassum's speech from the ceremony. Members of the academic community were critical of this decision, and it added fuel to growing dissatisfaction with Folt and Guzman's handling of issues on campus.
Another issue that sparked outrage was the university administration's response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus. The Los Angeles Police Department arrested 93 protesters during a protest encampment, which further escalated tensions and led to calls for accountability from faculty members.
The Academic Senate passed a resolution censuring Folt and Guzman, citing widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty. The resolution also called for an investigation into campus events related to the conflict in the Middle East.
Despite this vote, Folt maintains support from USC's trustees. However, some faculty members have criticized her handling of protests and lack of communication with them.
The turmoil at USC is not unique; UCLA's Legislative Assembly of the Academic Senate is set to hold an emergency meeting to consider proposals to censure or vote no-confidence in Chancellor Gene Block. The events at both universities highlight the importance of shared governance and ethical leadership in higher education institutions.
The academic senate of the University of Southern California voted to censure Carol Folt and Andrew T. Guzman after several weeks of turmoil.
Carol Folt, the university’s president, canceled a valedictorian’s speech and called in police to clear a protest encampment last month.
The academic senate also endorsed calls for an investigation into the administration’s actions and cited ‘widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty.’
Dr. Folt has maintained support from the university’s trustees, but some faculty members have criticized her handling of the protest.
The vote represented only a fraction of the university’s faculty members, but it was described as ‘significant’ with ‘far-reaching implications.’
Faculty members were particularly frustrated by a lack of communication from administrators and the speed with which police were called on protesters who were not violent.
Accuracy
21 senate members favored the censure, seven opposed it, and six abstained.
Faculty were also upset with administrators’ handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, resulting in 93 arrests by LAPD.
The USC Academic Senate voted to censure President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman over their handling of commencement events.
21 senate members favored the censure, seven opposed it, and six abstained.
The vote followed criticism from faculty members regarding decisions made by Folt and Guzman, including rescinding the speaking slot of valedictorian Asna Tabassum.
The censure also stemmed from dissatisfaction over the cancellation of the main-stage commencement ceremony and administrators’ stance towards pro-Palestinian protesters on campus.
UCLA’s Legislative Assembly of the Academic Senate is set to hold an emergency meeting to consider proposals to censure or vote no-confidence in Chancellor Gene Block.
Accuracy
Carol Folt, the university’s president, canceled a valedictorian’s speech and called in police to clear a protest encampment last month.
The academic senate also endorsed calls for an investigation into the administration’s actions and cited ‘widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty.’
Faculty were also upset with administrators’ handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, resulting in 93 arrests by LAPD.
University administrators across the US have cracked down on protests over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza with demonstrations being met with police force, arrests, suspensions and threats of expulsion.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also uses a dichotomous depiction in describing the actions of the university administration. However, no formal fallacies were found in the text itself.
Inflammatory Rhetoric:
Bias
(80%)
The authors express a clear bias against the actions of USC President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman. They use language that depicts the administration's decisions as 'tragedy of errors' and 'widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty'. The authors also quote Howard Rodman, a professor, who makes biased statements against Folt and Guzman. The authors do not provide any counter-arguments or evidence to refute these biased statements.
Howard Rodman, professor and former chair of the writing division at the USC School of Cinematic Arts: “The administration’s actions have been a tragedy of errors, all of them unforced.”
The body that represents USC’s faculty voted Wednesday to censure the university’s president, Carol Folt, and provost, Andrew Guzman, citing both leaders’ mishandling of events around commencement.
widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty about administrative actions and decisions by Folt and Guzman.
The University of Southern California’s Academic Senate voted to censure President Carol Folt and Provost Andrew Guzman over the mishandling of issues leading to the cancellation of commencement.
Members criticized USC’s president and provost over the removal of valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech from the ceremony, followed by its cancellation.
Faculty were also upset with administrators’ handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus, resulting in 93 arrests by LAPD.
The USC faculty body voted to censure the university’s president and provost over their handling of pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
21 members of the USC Academic Senate voted in favor of censuring the university’s president, Carol Folt, and provost, Andrew Guzman.
Accuracy
Carol Folt, the university’s president, canceled a valedictorian’s speech and called in police to clear a protest encampment last month.
The academic senate also endorsed calls for an investigation into the administration’s actions and cited ‘widespread dissatisfaction and concern among the faculty.’
The author worked in USC’s office of university advancement, external relations and the USC Viterbi School of Engineering.
The author helped plan large university events such as Homecoming and commencement ceremony.
The author was assigned to manage the robing of the platform party for commencement which included famous speakers, honorary doctorate recipients and trustees.
The author planned the honorary doctorate dinner in Hoose Library which was the most lavish and expensive dinner hosted all year.
The author is a two-time Trojan parent with one daughter graduating in 2022 and another going to graduate as part of the USC Class of 2024.
Commencement and Baccalaureate along with other traditional events have been cancelled or appear to be cancelled due to the belief that their presence is necessary.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an ad hominem fallacy against President Folt, Provost Guzman, the senior administration, and the entire board of trustees. The author assumes that these individuals are not essential for commencement ceremonies and other events. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of guests' supposed feelings about the presence or absence of these officials.
I don’t need them to be a part of the esteemed “platform party” and I do not want to hear their remarks.
The cancellation of commencement and Baccalaureate and what appears to be every traditional event over which the president and provost preside during the days leading up to commencement, are partially due to the delusion that any of us requires their presence.
