SJP at UCI Gets Slap on Wrist

Here it is, Folks: The long-awaited results of UCI's investigation into the May 18 disruption  of a film event hosted by Students Supporting Israel by Students for Justice in Palestine and assorted other student hooligans, ably assisted by "legal observers" from the UCI law school and the assistance of the campus Cross Cultural Center, which, as usual, served as a staging area for the disruption.

Did I forget anybody?


Here is Vice Chancellor Thomas Parham's campus-wide message:
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Subject: Follow-up on May 18 incident

Date: 08/18/2016 15:40

From: "Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D. - Vice Chancellor, Student Affairs" 

<zotmail@uci.edu>

To: "All Employees on the UCI Campus, All Medical Center Employees 

including All SOM, All UCI Students" <zotmail@uci.edu>

Reply-To: zotmail@uci.edu

  UCI Official Message

TO THE ANTEATER COMMUNITY:

On May 18, the UCI Police Department was called to an incident at a

film-viewing event, responding to reports of a possible disruption,

blocking of entrances and exits, and safety concerns. The UCIPD and the

Office of Student Conduct subsequently opened separate investigations

into this incident.

After a thorough review, the student conduct investigation is now

complete. The investigators found that Students for Justice in Palestine

(SJP), the group that organized and led the protest, violated Student

Conduct Policies regarding disruption: "Obstruction or disruption of

teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other

University activities." As a result, SJP was issued a written warning,

effective immediately and continuing until March 29, 2017. As part of

the sanction, SJP must host an educational program by November 18, 2016.

This decision was reached after weeks of interviews with multiple

witnesses and a thorough review of pertinent information, in accordance

with the due process procedures found in our Code of Conduct

(http://www.dos.uci.edu/conduct/code-of-student-conduct-handbook). The

decision is subject to appeal and the outcome of the appeal is final.

As is standard practice in law enforcement, the police investigation

will remain open to accommodate additional witnesses who may wish to

come forward.

UCI values its diverse mix of cultures and opinions. We support and

defend groups exercising free speech and assembly, yet we must protect

everyone's right to express themselves without disruption. This is a

bedrock principle of our university. Let's continue to work together to

foster a safe environment that allows the open, civil and robust

exchange of ideas to flourish.

Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.

Vice Chancellor

Student Affairs

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A written warning that lasts until March 29, 2017? What is that all about? And host an "educational event"? How about hosting a bake sale?

On a more serious note, was anybody at Erwin Chemerinsky's leftist law school asked to explain why representatives of that department were involved in this ugly incident? Apparently not. What about the Cross Cultural Center allowing its facility to be used (time and time again) as a staging area for disrupting Jewish events on campus? Nothing there.

One wonders why SJP wasn't ordered to write, "I will not disrupt Jewish events" on the chalkboard 100 times.

This brings to mind, Thomas Parham's predecessor, Manuel Gomez, who, after the 2010 disruption of the Israeli ambassador's speech at UCI by the Muslim Student Union, reduced their suspension from one year to ten weeks on his last day in office before waltzing off to retirement. Parham has shown himself to be as unresponsive to Jewish student concerns on campus as Gomez was.