Three UMass Amherst students, who participated in the October sit-in protests against the war in Gaza, have been denied the opportunity to study abroad next semester, sparking the possibility of a federal lawsuit against the university. The students, arrested during the protests and facing disciplinary action, are challenging the university’s sanctions, arguing that they are being disproportionately penalized for exercising their right to free speech.
Attorney Shay Negrón, representing one of the students, revealed that her client had appealed the sanctions imposed by the university administration for participating in the protest that led to 56 students and one faculty member being arrested for trespassing. The university asserted that the students violated the student code of conduct they agreed to upon enrollment.
Despite an ongoing appeal process, the International Programs Office (IPO) informed the student that they were ineligible for the planned study abroad programs for the upcoming semester, leaving them with financial burdens and academic uncertainties. Negrón argued that denying the student the opportunity to study abroad while the appeal is under review infringes on their right to due process.
In a Dec. 15 email, IPO Director Kalpen Trivedi stated that the students were ineligible for study abroad due to an active sanction or appeal for a conduct issue with the Dean of Students Office. The university maintains that this action aligns with its policy and past practice.
UMass Amherst spokesperson Ed Blaguszewski stated that the decision to bar students from study abroad for the next semester is consistent with the school’s policy and the International Program Office’s guidelines. The university acknowledges students’ right to demonstrate on campus but emphasized that arrests during the protests were based on the refusal to comply with a lawful order.
While only one student, represented by Negrón, is currently discussing legal action, another student, Aidan O’Neill, is also barred from study abroad programs due to disciplinary action following the October protest. O’Neill received the same email from Trivedi, and like the unnamed student, he is grappling with housing issues and registration challenges for the spring semester.
Attorney Rachel Weber, representing the arrested students, pointed out that the punitive actions taken by the university differ from past protests, where students faced no disciplinary action and were even praised by UMass President Marty Meehan. The possibility of a federal lawsuit looms as the students and their legal representatives argue that the sanctions interfere with their academic careers and learning experiences, calling for more proportionate disciplinary measures.
