As students return to campus for the fall semester, the aftermath of last spring’s pro-Palestinian protests continues to unfold at universities across California.
Students involved in the demonstrations are now facing various punishments, ranging from suspensions to mandatory reflection essays.
Disciplinary Actions Begin at USC
At the University of Southern California (USC), where students clashed with police during protests, those involved are feeling the repercussions of their actions.
The demonstrations, which called for the university to sever financial ties with Israel, led to a range of disciplinary measures.
Elizabeth Howell-Egan, a third-year law student, was one of the protesters.
While she avoided arrest, she is now facing a suspension that could last until next spring.
USC is implementing what Howell-Egan describes as a harsh “resolution process,” which has banned her from attending classes or being on campus.
Despite her limited role in the protests, where she served as a public liaison to the police, the university claims she was a leader.
“It feels like the process itself is the punishment,” she told the LA Times, adding that her beliefs have only been strengthened by the experience.
Reflection Essays: A Required Step in the Process
As part of the disciplinary process, students are required to submit essays reflecting on their involvement in the protests.
Howell-Egan, for example, must turn in a four-page essay by September, sharing her thoughts and insights while considering how she might approach things differently in the future.
These essays, however, are not meant to justify actions or critique others, according to the university’s guidelines.
While Howell-Egan anticipated some form of punishment, she finds the process overly burdensome and still awaits a hearing date.
Other students across California universities, including UCLA and UC Irvine, have shared similar frustrations, with some even unable to receive their diplomas due to ongoing investigations.
The Broader Scope of University Disciplinary Actions
According to experts, universities have considerable discretion in handling internal student conduct cases.
Brian Glick, director of student conduct at Adelphi University, points out that USC’s approach, involving suspensions, administrative hearings, and contrition essays, is fairly standard.
He emphasized that as long as protests are treated consistently with other forms of disruptive behavior, universities are operating within their rights.
At USC, students were charged based on a “preponderance of evidence,” a lower standard than what’s required in criminal cases, making it easier to apply disciplinary measures.
According to the school, 74 students were cited for campus violations during the two major protests last spring, with some facing interim suspensions over the summer.
Protests Erupt Following Controversial Statements
The demonstrations at USC were fueled by a series of events, including the suspension of valedictorian Asna Tabassum, who was banned from speaking at commencement after making anti-Semitic posts on social media.
This sparked further unrest, with students setting up encampments and protesting the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Tensions escalated when police attempted to disperse the crowds, leading to confrontations with demonstrators.
Protesters threw objects at the police, and at one point, a police vehicle was surrounded when a student was detained.
In response, USC brought in the Los Angeles Police Department to clear the campus.
A campus-wide message urged students to leave the area, warning that those who stayed could face arrest.
Ongoing Impact for Students
Many students, like Rachel, a humanities major, are finding ways to comply with university requirements while staying true to their beliefs.
Despite having to sign the student handbook and write an apology letter, Rachel remains firm in her convictions.
“I’ll write whatever they want me to write,” she told the LA Times, “but it doesn’t change my values.”
As the situation continues to develop, the broader conversation around freedom of expression, protest, and disciplinary actions on college campuses remains in focus.
What happens next for the students involved in these protests is yet to be determined.
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