Penn suspended four students involved with the Gaza Solidarity Encampment according to the Freedom School for Palestine.
Credit: Ethan YoungThis story is developing and will continue to be updated.
Penn has suspended four students involved with on-campus pro-Palestinian activism — including the Gaza Solidarity Encampment — according to an Instagram post from the Freedom School for Palestine.
The post states that the students received semesterlong or yearlong suspensions in letters notifying them of their updated disciplinary status on June 27. The suspensions mark the University's most significant disciplinary response to the encampment to date.
"Penn continues to review student conduct cases in connection with campus demonstrations this spring," a University spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian. "The University affords due process to all students in accordance with our policies and recommends sanctions as appropriate on a case-by-case basis."
“Penn administrators colluded with Penn Police to identify students from body cam footage and targeted students who had previously been involved in on-campus activism,” the Instagram post, which was jointly posted on the accounts of the Freedom School for Palestine, the Philly Palestine Coalition, the Drexel Palestine Coalition, Temple Students for Justice in Palestine, Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine, and Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine, reads.
It further states that those suspended “cannot access Penn healthcare or on-campus jobs that sustain their livelihoods.”
The post concludes with a “call to action” asking community members to send letters to Provost John Jackson Jr. and Vice Provost for University Life Karu Kozuma calling for all charges to be dropped, adding that the two administrators have “unilateral authority” to drop the cases.
The Daily Pennsylvanian previously reported that Penn placed six student organizers affiliated with the encampment on mandatory leaves of absence in May.
A University spokesperson told the DP at the time that the vice provost for University Life issued the mandatory leaves of absence in accordance with University policies, pending the results of disciplinary investigations by Penn’s Center for Community Standards and Accountability.
It is unclear if these four students are part of the group of six disciplined in May.
“Suspension is the termination of student status and separation from the University until a specified date,” according to the Pennbook. “Suspension means the loss of all rights and privileges normally accompanying student status.”
The Instagram post accuses the University of targeting students who were “previously involved in on-campus activism” and states that Penn administrators and Penn Police “colluded” to identify the students charged by using body camera footage.
“Penn thinks they can get away with stifling open expression and abusing students over the summer when no one is on campus, but we will not let our friends suffer in silence,” the post reads.
Penn Police officers in riot gear, with the assistance of Philadelphia Police, disbanded the encampment and arrested 33 individuals on May 10. The encampment lasted 16 days. On May 17, pro-Palestinian activists attempted to occupy Fisher-Bennett Hall at 34th and Walnut streets, resulting in the arrests of 19 individuals — seven of whom are Penn students — by Penn and Philadelphia Police officers.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
Donate
