Demand to drop the unlawful complaints against students

The university has filed a SOAR complaint against the student organization Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE), threatening suspension of a legacy cultural organization. The motion to suspend SAFE is a blatant move to unilaterally silence students who speak up about UM’s complicity in the genocide of the Palestinian people. SAFE is the only student organization on campus that is entirely dedicated to Palestinian liberation, and has existed on campus for over 22 years. This racist and unprecedented move against a legacy organization contradicts any claim that UM values its history of student activism.

At the same time, it has also filed an Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR) complaint, threatening students and staff with disciplinary probation. Just a few months ago, the administration illegally hired an outside consultant, Omar Torres, to act as a complainant for OSCR against student activists. Despite the decision made by both the OSCR student panel and the appeal process to render the students as not guilty, Martino Harmon undemocratically decided to formally reprimand them anyway. He acts as judge, jury and executioner against students who speak up, and it is our responsibility to speak up and hold him accountable.

Now, the university is using similar tactics to again repress student protesters demanding divestment at the Honors Convocation last March. Both the processes of SOAR and OSCR are intended to engage in restorative justice practices and resolve conflicts affecting students. Instead, Martino Harmon and Laura Blake Jones are manipulating these systems and weaponizing them as judiciary tools to further the repression of pro-Palestine activists.

Take action by sending these letters and demanding they drop the complaints!

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