PALESTINIAN STUDENT GROUP BANNED IN BOSTON AREA UNIVERSITY
The suspension of the Northeastern University Students for Justice in Palestine came only days after students affiliated with the group distributed mock “eviction notices” in students’ dormitories with information about Israeli practices of Palestinian home demolitions.
“We are being sanctioned for exercising our speech rights,” student leader Max Geller told Ma’an by email on Friday, Ma’an news agency reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
“Flyers from all sorts of groups are routinely placed around the school without mention from administrators, let alone a full on police investigation including home visits and interrogations,” he said, stressing what he termed “viewpoint discrimination” against the campus’ only pro-Palestinian organization.
Last week, students received words that the group would be suspended for the rest of the year, and current leaders would be banned from future leadership roles.
Additionally, two students have had administrative procedures launched against them by the administration, with the possibility of suspension from the university.
University officials said in a statement emailed to Ma’an on Friday that the proceedings are about “holding every member of our community to the same standards.”
“Despite repeated efforts by university officials to work with the leadership of SJP, the organization has repeatedly shown a disregard for university policies over an extended period of time,” the statement said.
Student leaders, however, are not convinced.
While the suspension notice listed a number of administrative guidelines that students had failed to uphold — like distributing unapproved flyers, placing stickers on university property, and not properly scheduling events — students point out other groups regularly engage in similar infractions without such serious consequences.
“Guidelines on flyer distribution in dormitories are flouted, if not flatly ignored, by other student groups, as well as individuals on a regular basis,” a statement released by the group on Monday read.
“This letter says our suspension is about holding all members to the same standard, then why does the university keep treating us so different?” (T/ P04/E01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
