Students at the University of Texas at Austin who were arrested during pro-Palestinian protests in April are now facing disciplinary action from the university. At least three students received letters from UT Austin’s Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity on Friday, initiating conduct proceedings against them.
The students were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on campus on April 24, where 57 people were arrested, most of them charged with criminal trespassing. The Travis County Attorney eventually dropped all charges. Since late May, at least six students have had holds placed on their accounts, preventing them from registering for classes or accessing transcripts.
One of the students facing discipline is Saja Naser, who was arrested during the protest. Naser expressed her belief that the university is trying to punish the students and set an example for future protesters. Other universities, like Harvard, have also taken action against students participating in pro-Palestinian actions on campus.
The students are required to submit a written response to the university by June 18, addressing questions about their conduct during the protest. The university’s student conduct rules allow for a range of disciplinary actions, including academic probation or suspension.
Anne-Marie Garcia Jardine, another student facing disciplinary action, expressed frustration over the lack of information provided by the university regarding the holds on their accounts. Despite the challenges, Garcia Jardine was able to access her transcript temporarily to send to New York University for graduate school.
The university has not provided a clear explanation for the delay in notifying students about conduct proceedings, leaving many students in limbo about their academic futures. The situation highlights the complexities of balancing free speech rights with university policies and the consequences that students may face for participating in protests on campus.