The protest was sparked by the university's decision to remove the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions initiative, an anti-Israel movement, from the ballot, according to Fox News Digital.
The Vanderbilt Divest Coalition, a pro-Palestine student group, had proposed an amendment to the Vanderbilt Student Government Constitution. The amendment aimed to prevent government funds from supporting businesses that back Israel. The proposal had garnered 600 signatures, enough to qualify for a ballot appearance. However, the university administration removed the amendment, prompting 30 students to stage a sit-in at the office of Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier last month.
While allegations surfaced that the protesters physically assaulted a Community Service Officer and pushed other staff members, the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition maintained that the demonstration was peaceful.
Despite the threat of suspension and forced removal, the sit-in continued for over 20 hours, with 30 students choosing to remain on the steps outside the building.
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The Vanderbilt Hustler, the university's student-run newspaper, reported that an open letter was sent to Chancellor Diermeier, criticizing the university's actions against the students as "draconian."
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"Some of us participated in similar sit-ins in our own day; they form part of the protest lexicon. And while such civil disobedience carries consequences, the consequences our administrators have chosen — including expulsion and criminal charges — are draconian,” Maroney said. “We call on the Chancellor to change course.”
The letter further expressed concern over the university's policies regarding free expression, describing them as "arbitrary, shifting, and unevenly applied." It also criticized the criterion that student protests must not 'disrupt' university operations as "perniciously vague and expansive."
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The university, citing federal privacy laws, declined to comment on the number of expulsions and suspensions.
"After a thorough review of the incident, including examination of evidence and interviews with students, the Student Accountability Community Standards and Academic Integrity staff issued a range of findings and sanctions that took the individual circumstances of each student’s conduct into account," said Vanderbilt Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver. "The sanctions included disciplinary probation as well as suspension and expulsion."
The students affected by the disciplinary action have ten days to appeal their case. During the appeal process, they will be permitted to return to class.
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