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Several Vanderbilt University students have been expelled, one has been suspended and more than 20 have been placed on probation after last month’s rowdy demonstration protesting the administration’s elimination of the anti-Israel Boycott initiative, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
This is according to the Vanderbilt Divestment Coalition (VDC), the group that introduced an amendment to the Vanderbilt Student Government Constitution that would prevent government funds from going to certain companies that support Israel.
The proposed amendment collected more than 600 signatures and qualified for a student vote, but was withdrawn by the university, prompting nearly 30 students to march into the hallways of Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier’s office to stage a sit-in. on March 26.
The university has alleged that some students physically assaulted a Community Service Officer (CSO) to gain entry and pushed staff members. VDC has described the protest as “peaceful”.
A Nashville Scene reporter was also detained outside the building after repeatedly attempting to enter several doors of the administration building, Kirkland Hall, before being asked to leave.
The sit-in protest lasted more than 20 hours. More than 30 additional students were on the steps outside the building protesting for hours even though they faced threats of suspension and forced expulsion.
PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTS AGAINST PLACES OF WORSHIP
On Friday, VDC said three students had been expelled, one student had been suspended and more than 20 were on “disciplinary probation for peacefully protesting for Palestine.”
The group accused Chancellor Diermeier of being “notoriously cruel to student protesters.”
“All students are going through the appeal process to rectify these extremely oppressive decisions by the administration. We only had one request: let’s vote,” VDC said in a social media post, before calling on other students to join them in a strike on Monday. at noon.
The university declined to confirm the group’s numbers on expulsions and suspensions, citing federal privacy laws.
“After a thorough review of the incident, including examination of the evidence and interviews with students, Community Standards for Student Accountability and Academic Integrity staff issued a series of findings and sanctions that took into account the individual circumstances of the student’s conduct. every student,” Vanderbilt Provost and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver said Friday. “Sanctions included disciplinary probation, as well as suspension and expulsion.”
Students have 10 days to appeal their case to the university’s Appeals Review Board. During the appeal process, students will be able to return to class.
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