A University has suspended the leader of its Palestine Solidarity Committee, effective immediately until August 2025, following his participation in a controversial campus demonstration in support of Palestine on April 24. The student leader, Ammer Qaddumi, has escalated the dispute by filing a motion with a federal court on Thursday, seeking to halt the enforcement of this suspension.
The university, which has not been disclosed in this report, responded to the motion by stating it will file its official response by Monday at 5 p.m. This legal battle traces back to an initial lawsuit filed by Qaddumi in August against the university, its President Jay Hartzell, and former provost Sharon Wood, accusing them of infringing on his First Amendment rights.
The tension between Qaddumi and the university administration initially rose when Qaddumi was informed on July 3 about potential disciplinary measures following the April 24 demonstration. The university’s Dean of Students office, after a lengthy 10-hour hearing spread over two days, initially handed down a decision of deferred suspension on September 26. This decision was later appealed by the Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Office on October 3, leading to a revised sanction on October 23, converting the deferred suspension to a three-semester suspension, during which Qaddumi is barred from campus and unable to earn course credits.
This action is part of a broader series of university responses to the pro-Palestine protests this spring. While many protesters faced academic probation or deferred suspension, Qaddumi, along with at least one other student, received a suspension. On the day of the protest, law enforcement detained 57 demonstrators for criminal trespass, though the charges were later dropped by County Attorney Delia Garza.
The university’s spokesperson, Mike Rosen, defended the university’s decisions, emphasizing their obligation to proactively ensure campus safety and order without waiting for disruptions to occur.
This article also draws attention to the broader context of campus activism and the delicate balance universities maintain in fostering free speech while ensuring peace and security.
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