USC To Begin Disciplinary Actions Against Students Arrested During Protests

According to emails sent to arrested USC students late on Thursday, the University of Southern California is to begin disciplinary actions against all arrested students during protests last week, warning that suspensions and expulsions could be coming.

Last week, a total of 93 protestors at USC were arrested following refusing to move during protests. As a result, they were charged with criminal trespassing. Since then, several more large arrests have occurred on campuses across California, including 35 arrests at Cal Poly Humboldt on Tuesday for occupying two buildings on campus, and 210 protestors being arrested early on Thursday at UCLA during an encampment clearing on campus.

At USC, things have also quieted down considerably since last week. While some protesters and an encampment remains on campus, it is considerably smaller since where it had been last week. Talks between protestors USC President Carol Folt have also continued, but with USC being hardline against any kind of divestment.  The commencement ceremony, which was cancelled because of the Gaza protests and because of concerns over a possible speech by alleged antisemitic valedictorian Asna Tabassum, came back in a way as well through a new Trojan Family Graduation Celebration, which will have no student speakers.

However, the University has not forgotten about the protests and arrests last week, with USC spending the last week figuring out the proper way to deal with students. According to President Folt, 51 of the 93 protestors arrested last week were students. Swastika graffiti being found on campus has also worried many officials that a reprise in violent protests could return. As more and more colleges, such as Columbia, have begun issuing suspensions and expulsions, USC decided to follow in their footsteps late on Thursday, issuing disciplinary action notices.

“We have been notified that you were arrested by the LAPD for criminal trespassing as they assisted the USC Department of Public Safety on Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Alumni Park, in clearing an encampment that violated university policy,” said the e-mail. “Following our normal practice, the alleged conduct leading to your arrest is being referred to the university’s disciplinary process. You will have an opportunity to participate in the process and we will take every effort to resolve the case expeditiously and with care.

“Please be aware that any further violations of university policy will result in further discipline up to expulsion as well as an immediate ban from campus.”

UPDATE: The University sent out an email Thursday evening warning student protesters who were arrested for criminal trespassing on April 24 that the “alleged conduct” leading to their arrests would be “referred to the University’s disciplinary process.” pic.twitter.com/HLzDHCTojS

— Daily Trojan (@dailytrojan) May 3, 2024

The new threats of suspension and expulsion on Thursday and Friday led to many students noticing a big change on campus on Friday.

“Compared to last week, they have been a lot quieter, a lot less pushy,” said Maria, a USC student, to the Globe on Friday. “We all heard about those e-mails that went out, and you can tell that there are few people willing to go that far again. And yeah, we just want to finish our classes in peace. The media is making it look like every student is out there, but we’re not. Most of us just want to go to class and avoid the tents. We don’t need that negativity.”

Researcher Sandy Crane, who studies college protest movements, added that “USC is not letting any of them get away with anything, which had been a worry amongst many there. I’m not sure if it will go as far as expulsions, but every one of those 51 students arrested is suddenly going to find their academic and collegiate life extremely difficult from here on out. If USC names all of them for example, jobs and things like that in the future will suddenly be a lot harder to get. Suspensions can wreck their academic progress. A ban on living on campus will throw them to the central LA rental market. Those arrested being barred from future graduations will be a big humiliation for many.

“They’ll be facing consequences it looks like, but with this, even a so-called slap-on-the-wrist can really hurt them. But, as many protestors are finding out, what they are doing has consequences now. Their smiles when being arrested are not staying smiles for long.”

More on what the disciplinary action to students will ultimately is due to come out soon.