Swarthmore College students face disciplinary action for allegedly assaulting staff members during pro-Palestinian protests by using a bullhorn too closely. Students and professors question the severity of the charges, arguing the noise level couldn't have caused physical harm. This incident is the latest example of escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups on college campuses.
Should Swarthmore students’ use of a bullhorn constitute assault? Tensions remain as discipline from pro-Palestinian protests continue.
Their actions? Using a bullhorn “in extremely close proximity” to staff members. They sought medical treatment for hearing damage, “which for some still persists,” said spokeswoman Alisa Giardinelli.Students and several professors who support them question whether the noise could have harmed anyone, and say the assault charges are just another tactic by
The department’s website notes two ongoing investigations at Swarthmore based on discrimination involving shared ancestry, but a spokesperson declined to specify the complainants.“This year ... is a year when presidents are much more systematic about when they speak up, how they speak up, and ... about how they attend to the demands of the stakeholders in their campus communities and beyond,” said Derrick Anderson, senior vice present for education futures at the American Council on Education.
At Swarthmore, 25 students face disciplinary action for alleged violation of school policies pertaining to pro-Palestinian protests. Two are major misconduct cases before panels of students, faculty, and staff members that could lead to punishment including suspension and expulsion. One of those is underway.
“It’s disturbing as a community member to see that the college feels comfortable publicly casting doubt on the experiences of its own students, faculty, and staff when they come forward,” said Sangina Patnaik, an associate professor of English literature. “A hundred and five decibels is pretty loud, especially if you are in close proximity, and could cause acoustic trauma leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss,” said Brianna Casey, an audiologist for Listen 2 Life hearing centers, with offices in Flourtown, Souderton, and Chalfont.
“We are researching what would be a reasonable decibel limit,” said Alex Morey, FIRE’s vice president of campus advocacy. The pro-Palestinian protests are different than some prior protests, such as those for fossil fuel divestment, said Stephanie Ives, vice president for student affairs. “One day in the future, the people of Swarthmore College will wonder where their Jews went, and they will find them at other colleges doing interesting and important work,” he wrote.
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