As disciplinary hearings begin against arrested UT Dallas students, protests against Israel-Gaza war continue

On a 100-degree evening Tuesday, dozens of people stood outside the General Dynamics plant in Garland, chanting Palestinian flags, carrying signs and using Palestinian scarves to protect themselves from the sun.

The arms company – with factories across the country – produces MK-80 bombs, which were used in Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip. During a protest against the war in March, 23 people were arrested outside the factory.

Among the protesters were students from the University of Texas at Dallas who were arrested two months ago at a pro-Palestinian camp on campus.

“The university refuses to heed our demands for divestment,” said Nouran Abusaad, one of the arrested students. “So much so that they would rather oppress and persecute their own students with the state police and police than make ethical investment decisions and then support their Palestinian students.”

Abusaad and the other students could be told their academic fate this week, as the university is holding disciplinary hearings through Friday that could result in probation, suspension or even expulsion.

Members of the UTD community called on the university system to divest from defense contractors with ties to Israel’s Gaza war, including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Israel’s offensive in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7 that killed about 1,200 people. Since then, more than 38,000 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed in Israeli air and ground strikes and more than 2 million have been displaced from their homes, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Abusaad said she took to the streets to protest the war despite threats of disciplinary action and her conditional release from prison.

“The idea that I am not safe at my university because of my Palestinian organization and that the university will try to silence my voice as a Palestinian will always be a source of fear,” the rising senior said. “But as I said, we are inspired by our people in Palestine.”

After the arrests

A total of 21 people, including nine students and three professors at the time, were arrested for trespassing at the UTD Chess Plaza camp on May 1. Supporters camped outside the prison all night.

The protesters were released from the Collin County Jail on May 2. As part of their bail conditions, they said they were barred from campus except for classes and class-related activities — in the case of the professors, work and work-related activities. Their criminal cases are pending.

The university is currently investigating whether the arrested students violated school rules by engaging in disruptive behavior, obstructing access to institution facilities, failing to comply with the orders of a university official, or otherwise violating student conduct rules, according to a letter a student sent to KERA News.

Juan Salinas II

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KERA NEWS

Lee Mulupi was not a student but volunteered as a legal observer at the campus camp. Mulupi said they knew they would likely be among those arrested once police arrived, but they hoped to protect the students.

Mulupi and others are angry because the students face disciplinary action.

“It also makes me admire and admire these people so much because they knew this was a possibility,” Mulupi said. “They knew they were putting this on the line, and that shows how much it was important to them.”

University spokeswoman Brittany Magelssen said the university would not comment on disciplinary action against the students due to privacy concerns. The university did not immediately confirm or explain what professional consequences the faculty members face.

A similar scene played out in Travis County, where more than 100 people were arrested for trespassing during pro-Palestinian protests at UT Austin in April. All charges were dropped, but at least four students received disciplinary action earlier this month. Those punishments included a suspended sentence and an actual suspension.

How the hearings should proceed

If a student contests allegations that he or she has violated university rules, he or she may be heard before a hearing officer or a panel of faculty, staff, and students from the UTD Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the Student Conduct Rules. Students must receive written notice of the hearing at least five days in advance.

Students may present documentary evidence, witnesses, and a summary of the witnesses’ statements. Students may be accompanied by an advisor, but the advisor may not question witnesses, present arguments or objections, or present evidence. If the student retains an attorney as an advisor, the Dean of Students may also do so through the UT System Office of the General Counsel.

The hearings proceed similarly to a court case: The dean and the student present their opening statements and evidence. Both sides present witnesses, and each party may question the other party’s witnesses.

The dean and student then make closing arguments, and the hearing panel or official decides whether a student is responsible for the alleged violations. Sanctions may follow, which include a range of punishments – disciplinary probation, revocation of grades or a degree, suspension, or expulsion. Students may appeal these decisions to the Vice President for Student Affairs.

Mousa Najjar graduated with a computer science degree more than a week after being released from prison in May. He said he was arrested again on June 27 for trespassing after he held up a Palestinian flag bearing the words “Divest from Death” at the graduation ceremony.

Najjar said his diploma and certificates were withheld after he was escorted off the stage and off campus. But the withholding was lifted a day after the Dallas Morning News published an article about Najjar’s experiences, he said. His hearing is imminent.

“It is simply inconceivable how a university can and will attack its own students, both those who have graduated and those who are still studying and paying tuition fees,” he said.

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