This semester, Students for Justice in Palestine’s chapter at the University will no longer be recognized by the administration as a registered student organization.
The organization received a notice from the University terminating its RSO status on Aug. 14 after an Aug. 2 review by a panel of the Subcommittee on Organized Conduct. The panel, in its written letter to the organization, cited SJP UIUC’s violations of University bylaws last spring.
The chapter announced its status in an Instagram post on Monday, which included a screenshot of the email with the words “I AINT READING ALL THAT!” written over it, dismissing the University’s notice and vowing to continue their organized efforts to campaign against the war in Gaza.
The encampment last spring saw arrests and heavy police activity with the University’s response to violations of the Student Code, where campus expression must fall in line with the Campus Administrative Manual.
According to the notice, the encampment violated the rule within the manual that prohibits unapproved structures from being built on University grounds.
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The second offense concerned the encampment not occurring on a reserved space, and the third offense was due to the blockade built against law enforcement who attempted to forcefully disband the encampment. The fourth and final offense was the physical contact that ensued in the police confrontation, which included “linking arms and (unclear) wooden boards,” read the notice.
According to SJP UIUC’s social media, the panel found an abundance of evidence that much of the responsibility for the encampment rested on SJP.
In the caption, SJP UIUC referred to this as one of many efforts nationwide to “suppress voices that challenge institutional power and stand up for Palestinian human rights” as SJP chapters at different universities have faced “unjust sanctions, disbandments, and harassment.”
The group expressed concern that this will set a precedent for further retaliation against student activism and free speech on campuses.
“At UIUC, the new policy changes only make it easier for administrations to target groups like SJP that speak out against occupation, apartheid, and injustice,” the statement read. “We will continue organizing with or without the support of our institution as UIUC is dictated by the student body and not the administration.”
According to a release sent by the Office of Student Affairs and obtained by The Daily Illini, SJP UIUC chose not to appeal the University’s decision and will be eligible to petition for restoration as an RSO in the fall of 2027.
Correction Sept. 26, 11:59 a.m.: The original version of this article incorrectly stated that SJP UIUC received the notice from the University terminating its RSO status on Sept. 23. In actuality, SJP UIUC was notified on Aug. 14 via a written letter that their status was revoked.
