By Zehra Nur Duz
Four undergraduate students at the US’ Harvard University are facing new disciplinary actions after leading or participating in a pro-Palestine “week of action” late last month, the student newspaper of the Ivy League school said Monday.
Hearings at the Harvard College Administrative Board can result in students getting warnings, probations, or required withdrawals, the Harvard Crimson reported.
Actions that hinder the “ability of members of the university to perform their normal activities constitutes unacceptable conduct and is subject to appropriate discipline,” the university, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, said in a statement.
During a rally organized by a coalition of pro-Palestine groups, Kojo Acheampong, one of the students facing disciplinary action, said: “We understand that this university is trying to attack students.”
“But we know that that’s not gonna stop us,” he said, adding: “We will never, ever, ever let these attacks get in the way of our solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
The November week of action included a rally and a walkout.
In mid-November, eight undergraduates affiliated with Harvard Jews for Palestine also faced hearings after taking part in a 24-hour occupation of University Hall, the Crimson said.
The news comes as fallout continues from last week, when three US college presidents – the University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill, Harvard’s Claudine Gay, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sally Kornbluth – were grilled by a congressional committee on antisemitic incidents on their campuses.
The heads expressed their commitment to combating all forms of hatred and an increase in Islamophobia and hatred towards Muslims.
For hours, they answered questions on antisemitism, disciplinary activities against students, how universities represent different opinions, and campus security.
Magill resigned on Saturday after days of criticism and pressure following her comments at the congressional hearing.