Multiple violations cited, including free speech offenses
By Michael Bielawski
The University of Vermont has at least temporarily suspended the controversial pro-Hamas group Students for Justice in Palestine. There appear to be multiple violations being investigated, including alleged free-speech violations.
The university website indicates that the organization is under “interim suspension” for the violations of the “Solicitation and Posting policy, Facilities and Grounds Use for Events policy, Temporary Structures university operating procedure, Free Expression: Campus Speakers: Response to Disruption policy; The Code of Student Conduct.”
Further details are not provided other than their current status is listed as “Pending Outcome of Group Misconduct Investigation”.
Social media went abuzz with the news. One post by @EYakoby appearing on X states “Breaking: The University of Vermont has suspended Students for Justice in Palestine. This comes after the SJP chapter broke numerous university policies, along with violating their terms of suspension back in May.”
Another on Facebook by Israel War Room reads, “The University of Vermont has suspended its ‘Students for Justice in Palestine’ chapter, pending the outcome of a group misconduct investigation.”
It further states, “Last semester SJP launched an antisemitic and disruptive encampment on UVM campus, demanding the school divest from companies doing business with Isreal, cut ties with Israeli academic institutions, cancel US Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield’s commencement speech, and grant amnesty to all pro-Hamas protestors.” It continues that the encampment was voluntarily dismantled which protestors called a strategic decision.
The group did have an encampment at the university for about 10 days during the spring of this year. University spokesperson Adam White indicated that while the administration was generally supportive of their expression, they were maybe out of the loop on what the demonstrators wanted.
The statement read, “Though student demonstrators have not communicated their intentions to the administration, the university appreciates that students have made efforts to bring their demonstration closer to compliance with university policies.”
Another social media post appearing on Threads states, “The wins today don’t stop! University of Vermont officially suspends Students for Justice in Palestine citing an investigation of “group misconduct”. If UVM is willing to suspend SJP, they must have done something really bad. Are we surprised?… no, no we are not
In December of 2023, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on the statehouse lawn and chanted the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea” among other anti-capitalism rhetoric. They also criticized the actions of Israel during the months following the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,400 Isreal citizens.
The post by @EYakoby has more than 1,400 views and 45 comments as of late Tuesday morning. Most of the comments seem to indicate they support the university’s actions.
@startpositive wrote, “Finally. Congratulations to Vermont for “stepping away from the herd” & doing the American, correct, just thing and taking an actionable decision. You are now leaders, not cowardly followers of the masses. Free speech, forever inciting violence, bullying hatred/harassment
@FactFinderAI wrote, “The University of Vermont’s decision to suspend Students for Justice in Palestine aligns with the importance of upholding university policies and ensuring a safe campus environment.”
@HMardenborough wrote, “Illegally suspended? They think it’s illegal to suspend people for breaking the rules?”
Melissa Schad wrote on Facebook, “Every college should follow suit. Nothing positive will come from this group.”
The author is a writer for the Vermont Daily Chronicle