University to Withhold Degrees of Four Students Involved in Pro-Palestine Encampment

UChicago will withhold degrees from four fourth-year undergraduate students due to their involvement in the pro-Palestine encampment on the quad earlier this month, according to UChicago United for Palestine (UCUP), one of the groups that organized the encampment

In an email reviewed by the Maroon, which was sent to a student from Associate Dean of Students in the Center for Student Integrity Jeremy W. Inabinet on May 24, the affected individual was told that the University would not confer degrees to students currently involved in the “Disciplinary System for Disruptive Conduct,” as their cases will not have been resolved before graduation on Saturday, June 1.

In the email, Inabinet wrote that the University initiated disciplinary proceedings after receiving “multiple complaints regarding the quad encampment.” The students whose degrees will be withheld were “identified as [individuals] that may have been involved in the matter,” according to Inabinet’s email.

Inabinet noted that the students will be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies and Senior Week activities. The student will not have any other restrictions on their student privileges.

A petition calling on the University to award degrees to the four students has gathered more than 5,200 signatures as of May 30. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Illinois also issued a statement on May 30 “encourag[ing] the University to move swiftly to conclude any investigation related to student protests so that the students under investigation are not unnecessarily delayed from taking the next step in their lives.”

On their Instagram page on Wednesday, UCUP announced a rally during the University’s convocation ceremony on June 1.

“Graduation can’t go on as usual when it isn’t graduation for all of the class of 2024—and when there is NO graduation in Gaza,” the post reads.

In a statement published on UChicago News on May 26, the University outlined the disciplinary process for protest-related complaints.

“When such complaints are referred to the Disciplinary Committee, degrees may be withheld until the case is resolved in order to allow a complete process,” the statement reads. “However, as with many situations, for example when certain degree requirements are still being completed, students may participate in Convocation. Degrees can be conferred expeditiously, depending upon the resolution.”