Vanderbilt Students Expelled After "Free Palestine" Protest

Students at Vanderbilt University are facing expulsion and suspensions after a protest outside of an administration building in March turned chaotic and led to arrests.

A university spokeswoman said Vanderbilt couldn’t share how many students are facing expulsion or suspension related to the incident at Kirkland Hall, where students pushed past a community service officer to enter the administration building as part of a sit-in protest. But in an update to students and staff on Friday, Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver said after a thorough review of the incident, including examination of evidence and interviews with students, administrators issued a range of findings and sanctions, including disciplinary probation as well as suspension and expulsion.

Students will be able to appeal the sanctions and return to class while going through the appeals process, the university said.

Four Vanderbilt students were arrested following the protest at the university. Three students were charged with Class A misdemeanor assault after pushing the officer and a staff member as they entered the building. The fourth student was charged with vandalism after allegedly breaking a window on the outside of the building.

Students held a protest after the arrests demanding the university drop charges and suspensions.

The gravity of this situation and these outcomes weighs heavily on those of us charged with carrying out our responsibility as leaders; we fully understand that student choices and decisions can lead to serious and costly consequences,” Raver said. I thank everyone for their efforts to pull together and support our educative mission even in the midst of these difficult circumstances. I am confident that we will move forward together, committed to our shared collaborative culture and mission in support of one another and in service to society.”