Student might not be able to graduate after taking part in pro-Palestine protest

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


A student says he has been "scapegoated" and faced months of uncertainty following a suspension for his participation in a pro-Palestine rally.

Joe, who did not want to give his full name, joined fellow Lancaster University students back at the Alex Square protest back in June. The demonstration demanded that the university sever its ties with BAE Systems.

Some demonstrators went as far as to occupy Vice-Chancellor Andy Schofield's office, dubbing it the "Amin al-Bahri liberated zone".

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Joe, currently in his third year, found himself suspended on June 4. He was also reported to the police and had his degree withheld pending a disciplinary hearing. He described his plight as "awful" and "very stressful", lamenting how the suspension prevented him from graduating, applying for jobs and led to 'financial hardship and uncertainty'.

Joe, originally from Warwickshire, will face a disciplinary board on Monday (September 16) on charges including anti-social behaviour, threats to health and safety, unauthorised use of university property, disruption of academic activities and bringing the university into disrepute. The university said it followed an "apparent break-in at night to staff offices in University House and repeated sightings of intruders on the roof which were reported to the police".

More than 3,000 people have signed an online petition in the past three days calling on the university to 'immediately drop the charges' against Joe and 'cease disciplining or scapegoating pro-Palestine student activists'.

Protestors set up an encampment and occupied the entrance into University House in June
Protestors set up an encampment and occupied the entrance into University House in June

Speaking to LancsLive ahead of Monday's hearing, Joe said: "It's been awful to say the least. It's now September and it's still going on four months on.

"The weird thing is they have singled me out specifically. Having looked into why they have assumed that I had some role in the leadership of the encampment.

"This is completely false. The whole thing was run without leadership and all decisions were made collectively.

"It's very hard to fight without knowing what I have done to bring the university into disrepute. The whole process has been a punishment. The uni has scapegoated me to intimidate other protestors.

"Will I keep my degree or not? What will the punishment be? It's all up in the air.

"I have never got into trouble at university before. I have been part of other student protests during all three years at university.

"I believe they have been dragging this out on purpose to punish me and intimidate other students. The more awful they make this process then the more they think it will stop students wanting to protest."

A decision on the charges is expected later next week. Meanwhile, Joe has vowed to take legal action against the university if his degree is permanently refused.

He said: "I would have to take legal action. I have never heard of anyone losing their degree from a student protest. It would be unprecedented on a massive scale.

"Not just to get my degree back but compensation. It's gone on and on.

"I should be a graduate and looking for career jobs with my degree. I've had to put that on pause as I can't put my degree on my CV.

Instagram post from 'Demilitarise Lancaster' on June 4
Instagram post from 'Demilitarise Lancaster' on June 4

"This is a very stressful time anyway as a graduate. I'm supposed to be making my big next step into an incredibly competitive job market. To be held back during that is massive.

"Having that uncertainty resting over my head, them calling the police on me, having to refresh my email inbox for things they are sending me. It's exhausting. I've not been able to enjoy my last summer before heading into the world of work."

An online petition has been launched supporting the student, stating: "In the wake of the Palestine solidarity encampment at Lancaster University, the university management has singled out one student for disciplinary measures. We stand with Joe - no repression of protest, Lancs Live reports.

"Joe is among hundreds of students who have participated in the encampment and related actions, demanding that the university end ties with BAE Systems, an arms company manufacturing weapons for Israel."

It adds: "On the 4th June, Joe was suspended from University and banned from entering campus for his involvement in protest actions related to the encampment. His degree has been withheld, he has missed graduation, and has been unable to apply for jobs - resulting in severe stress, financial hardship and uncertainty.

"The university also reported Joe to the police, who declined to press charges. On Monday 16th September, Joe faces a disciplinary board on charges including 'anti-social behaviour', 'threats to health and safety', 'unauthorised use of university property', 'disruption of academic activities' and 'bringing the university into disrepute'.

"The university has threatened potential consequences of these charges including the possibility that Joe's degree is permanently refused. This severe consequence is wildly disproportionate and unjust, and unprecedented in the context of university encampments nationally.

"Students have the right to protest and take political action against their university. The encampment represents hundreds of students and staff who are appalled at Lancaster University's refusal to end its relationship with BAE Systems even as genocide unfolds in Palestine. Joe has been scapegoated and targeted with severe consequences in order to silence Palestinian solidarity and dissuade other students from challenging the university's ties to arms manufacturers.

"We call on Lancaster University to:

  • immediately drop the charges against Joe

  • cease disciplining or scapegoating pro-Palestine student activists

  • respect the legal right of students to protest under the European Convention on Human Rights

  • stop reporting student activists to the police."

Responding to the accusations in the petition, a spokesperson for Lancaster University told LancsLive: "Following an apparent break-in at night to staff offices in University House and repeated sightings of intruders on the roof which were reported to the police, an individual was identified and investigated by police. A student has been suspended for a temporary period while the police investigation took place and pending the completion of the University’s internal disciplinary investigations (under the University’s Student Discipline Regulations)."

BAE Systems previously said: "The ongoing violence in the Middle East is having a devastating impact on civilians in the region and we hope the parties involved find a way to end the violence as soon as possible. We respect everyone’s right to protest peacefully.

"We operate under the tightest regulation and comply fully with all applicable defence export controls, which are subject to ongoing assessment."