By SUSAN JONES
The cause of Students for Justice in Palestine, a registered student group that Pitt suspended in March, has been taken up by the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a suit against the University on April 15.
SJP was first brought before a student conduct hearing on Feb. 4 related to an incident in Hillman Library on Dec. 9 when students engaged in a pro-Palestinian “study-in.”
The Office of Student Conduct alleges that SJP organized the event, which violated several University policies. Two SJP officers said in February that the organization did not host the event, but did promote it on the SJP Instagram page.
The ACLU alleges that Pitt put SJP on an indefinite, interim suspension in March “in apparent retaliation for a letter that SJP-Pitt organized with more than 70 other university-affiliated clubs and community organizations protesting the school’s repeated harassment of the club.”
The University said that SJP “improperly engaged in communications to members of the Conduct Hearing Board during their deliberations.” The suspension means SJP cannot use University resources “to advance the mission of the organization. This includes but is not limited to, requesting event space, requesting funds, facilitating any events or hosting anything that be construed as an event, including co-sponsorship,” according to a letter sent to SJP by Pitt.
The University had no comment after the ACLU suit was filed, but said after SJP’s suspension in March that, “The University’s approach to student conduct necessitates respecting the privacy and integrity of ongoing investigations. Conduct proceedings are an unbiased, educational process designed to uphold community standards and the Code of Conduct. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for a general overview."
In a news release, Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, said: “The First Amendment requires that public universities respect students’ right to engage in vigorous debate about important issues of the day. Pitt’s suspension of the club’s status and other interference with peaceful advocacy is unconstitutional retaliation. The fact that the Middle East conflict elicits strong views is all the more reason that universities must maintain an environment that promotes the marketplace of ideas. Pitt cannot constitutionally put its thumb on one side of the debate by harassing and chilling the pro-Palestinian students’ side of that important discussion.”
The lawsuit accuses the University of violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and asks the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania to order the University to lift SJP-Pitt’s suspension and to cease further disciplinary proceedings against the club over the library study group and the open advocacy letter criticizing Pitt.
The suit also names Chancellor Joan Gabel, along with Marlin Nabors, associate vice provost and dean of students; Karin Asher, associate dean for student engagement and professional development; DaVaughn Vincent-Bryan, director of student involvement; Matthew Landy, director of student conduct; and Jamey Mentzer, associate director of student conduct.
The ACLU previously sent a letter to Chancellor Gabel in March asking that SJP be reinstated, but the two sides were not able to reach agreement.
SJP continues to use its Instagram page to promote events off campus.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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