Fourth Estate/Viviana Smith

The Cuesta-McAulay administration and several student organizations release statements in opposition to the suspension of student organization Students for Justice in Palestine at GMU

BY VIVIANA SMITH, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

On Tuesday, Dec. 3, the Instagram account “gmu4palestine” posted a statement addressing “the Interim Suspension of SJP at Mason and Targeting of Student Organizers.”

The statement follows the recent suspension of a formerly registered student organization, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) at Mason, after a raid occurred in the home of two Mason students identified as leaders of the organization.

According to the statement by “gmu4palestine,” “On Nov. 7, a raid was conducted at the off-campus residence of two SJP student leaders by a large contingent of Fairfax County and GMU police officers. They were told the search was related to property damage incidents at the Fairfax campus.

The next day, on Nov. 8, one of the targeted students received an email notifying them of SJP’s suspension. However, due to the seizure of their electronic devices during the raid, they did not receive the notice until days later.”

On Dec. 4, Fourth Estate requested information from the Fairfax County department relating to the “property damage incidents”; however, in accordance with Va. Code 2.2-3706.1(D), those records are unavailable at this time. 

The 3-page statement, signed by 16 Mason student organizations, addresses the Mason administration directly, claiming the suspension of SJP is an infringement on free speech and student-led activism. “When student organizations like SJP are denied the ability to meet, advertise, or mobilize their peers, the fundamental right to engage in social movements is stripped away,” the statement reads. 

On Nov. 8, one of the two student officers whose home had been raided received an email of the organization’s suspension; however, their electronics were confiscated, preventing both from notifying other members. “Alarmingly, neither the SJP faculty advisor nor other members of the organization were informed of the suspension,” the statement reads. “This lack of transparency and communication undermines the integrity of the process and the students’ rights to be fully informed.”

According to Mason’s RSO and university policies and guidelines, violations of university policies and procedures result in offending student groups entering a “formalized resolution process” through the Student Involvement office or the Office of Student Conduct by referral. 

The resolution process includes, “notification of alleged violations and meeting date, meeting with RSO Lead Team members or a full-time Student Involvement staff member [and] email summarizing meeting and required next steps or referral to the Office of Student Conduct.” The penalty for student organizations found in violation of these guidelines range from a warning to a referral to the Student Conduct office. 

According to the Code of Student Conduct (CSC), “the University, at its discretion, may pursue disciplinary action against a student or student organization while the student or student organization is also subject to criminal proceedings, even if such criminal charges are pending, reduced, or dismissed.” Additionally, the CSC states that a student or student organization will receive conduct correspondence via email. 

The Fourth Estate contacted Mason Student Involvement to inquire if any other group members had received notice but has yet to hear back. 

In addition to the statement made by “gmu4palestine,” the official Instagram account for the Cuesta-McAulay administration released a statement in opposition to the suspension. “We affirm our support of the right to expression and due process as SJP faces unjust, ungrounded interim suspension,” the statement reads. “As elected representatives of the George Mason student body, the Cuesta-Mcaulay administration works to ensure that the diverse voices of our peers are not stifled…”

This is a developing story. Fourth Estate intends to provide updates as the story progresses.