Several universities across the country are withholding or threatening to withhold the diplomas of seniors who participated in pro-Palestine demonstrations on their campuses. This comes amid a national student mobilization in response to Hamas’ attack on Israel in October, which led to a deadly offensive in Gaza. The students are demanding that their colleges denounce Israel’s attacks on Gaza, increase transparency about their Israeli ties, and divest from companies doing business with Israel. While many of the demonstrations have been peaceful, hundreds of students have been arrested and some are facing disciplinary hearings. Multiple colleges are now stating that diplomas will be held until these investigations are completed.
The University of California, Los Angeles has threatened to discipline and withhold the diplomas of at least 55 students involved in pro-Palestine demonstrations. These students are accused of violating the student code of conduct by failing to disperse at an encampment and engaging in disorderly behavior, disturbing the peace, and failure to comply with police orders. Students must attend hearings to discuss their protest involvement before they can receive their degrees. Similar actions are taking place at Ivy League schools like Princeton University, where the degrees of seniors involved in a pro-Palestine walkout have been held pending investigations.
At the University of Chicago, a senior received an email stating that he was potentially involved in disruptive conduct at an encampment and that his degree would not be conferred until the matter is resolved through disciplinary hearings. While schools insist that free speech is valued on their campuses, some students believe the disciplinary actions against them for participating in protests are inconsistent with this value. One student faced disciplinary warnings for walking out of an event, despite previous instances of protests on campus not resulting in punishment.
Graduates and students involved in the pro-Palestine demonstrations feel that holding their diplomas is a form of repression of free speech. They argue that their rights to free speech were respected in other instances of protests on campus and that similar actions are not being taken against students who engage in other forms of protest. Despite claims by universities that they support peaceful demonstrations, students feel that their right to protest the Israeli military actions in Gaza is being stifled.
The response from universities to the pro-Palestine demonstrations has sparked backlash from students, alumni, and city council members. Some feel that withholding diplomas is a violation of students’ free speech rights and goes against the universities’ own policies on free expression. The actions taken against students involved in the protests are seen as a form of punishment for speaking out against Israeli aggression in Gaza. University administrators are facing criticism for their handling of the situation and are being urged to reconsider their disciplinary actions and uphold the values of free speech and expression on their campuses.
