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USC students speak out
Students who spoke with Eyewitness News on Monday believe groups homed in on Tabassum once she was bestowed with the valedictorian honor.
"I think people went too far with, like, stalking things she had been liking, and kind of like, trolling her on social media, I don't think she deserved that," said Jaela Bard, who disagrees with the university's decision.
Student Avi Pandit believes Tabassum should "fully have the right" to speak.
"She has earned it, 100%, being valedictorian at USC is no joke. Just because she believes something, or posts something online, doesn't take her right away from free speech," he said.
USC's decision has reverberated throughout campus, and some graduating seniors say students are already thinking about what they will do at the commencement ceremony.
"It's a really polarizing issue," said USC senior Amir Bell. "Some kids have already said, like, 'Oh, I'm going to wear a pin or something,' but it's really polarizing, and it's really consumed our campus."
ABC News and City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.
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