AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin has placed its chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) on interim suspension in the wake of chaotic protests on Wednesday that resulted in more than 50 arrests.
While those arrested will not face charges, the university said the organization violated "institutional rules" highlighted defined in Chapter 11 of the university catalog. The school also clarified that the group was the only entity placed under suspension, not individual students.
The length of the suspension will be determined by the Dean of Students Office.
The university released a memo highlighting its free speech policy that can be viewed here.
A UT spokesperson said students who were arrested are not supposed to be on campus unless it's for academic reasons.
Some students and members of the Palestine Solidarity Committee say they have lost faith in their administration.
"I think the response from admin, you know, I'm disappointed to say the least especially seeing the excessive use of force," UT Austin student and Palestine Solidarity Committee member Rawan said. "You would think our admin would put some kind of statement in support of students, but not only did they not do that, they even went so far as to repress students more and suspend us for just peacefully protesting."
Fellow student Jenna Homsi shares Rawan's anger.
"Villainize us and make us seem like we're the aggressors. And I think that the community is not standing for that, so we're pushing, we launched an email campaign and are pushing for people to condemn UT," Homsi said.
UT Austin law student Oceane Maher called the demonstration peaceful but shared some of her objections with some of the event organizers' opinions. She was in Israel when Hamas attacked.
"It's hard to come back here and to hear some of the things that are being said, something that some people have told me, that the things that I saw with my own eyes that I experienced firsthand weren't true," Maher said.
Still, students are making a promise to gather, assemble and fight for their voices to be heard.
"Whatever the threat is, we know it's a fraction of what they're facing in Gaza," Rawan said.
On Thursday, the PSC had demands for the university because of the violence that took place.
“The resignation of [UT President] Jay Hartzell, who has administered and brought these violent forces onto our campus and repressed our student voice and our first amendment to speak,” Raneem, a leader of the PSC, said.
Other demands the PSC asked for were for all charges of those arrested to be dropped, which has happened, for the university to cut ties with businesses that support Israel and to give amnesty to their group. That’s because they maintain that things were always supposed to be peaceful.
UT said in a statement that there was significant participation from non-university groups that looked to cause disruption. Over half of those arrested Wednesday were from outside groups. UT said several pro-Palestine protests have happened on campus without incident.
Faculty also sent a letter to UT president Jay Hartzell, expressing concern over the university's response to the protests. That letter can be read here.