Their high school graduation was ruined by COVID, now college has been wrecked ... trends now

Four years after the class graduating high school in 2020 saw their commencement exercises decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the same group of students are now seeing their college graduations marred by chaotic campus protest activity.

At the University of Southern California, administrators announced Thursday that the school's main stage commencement ceremony is canceled this year, ostensibly as a result of the extra time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus who will be subjected to increased safety measures.

'We will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30am to 10am,' read an announcement from the school dated April 25.

The decision follows days of unrest on the sunny SoCal campus in the wake of the cancelation of the class of 2024's valedictorian address, after the honor had been bestowed upon a Muslim student with explicitly anti-Israel views.

Fox News National Correspondent Bill Melugin pointed out on X that the graduating class 'likely didn't get a high school graduation during COVID in 2020, and now won't get a traditional college graduation.'

He called the reality for the graduating students, 'brutal.'

As unregulated, chaotic protests about the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war break out across American college campuses, USC has opted to account for potential disturbances to its planned graduation festivities by dialing back the number of large events held, and bulking up the amount of security on campus.

'Prior to entering commencement events, we will screen people and bags, using security measures similar to those for attending athletic events at the Coliseum and before entering many other large venues,' notes the school's most recent announcement.

A 'clear bag' policy will also be in effect.