{Nanaimo, BC. 06/02/2025} Vancouver Island University (VIU) has once again violated its students' right to free speech by suspending those who peacefully protested against the genocide in Palestine and racism on campus. Despite assurances during the Palestine Solidarity Encampment that students would not face disciplinary action for exercising their rights, VIU has acted in retaliation—suspending two Palestinian students for their participation.

One of the students, Sara Kishawi, is suspended for 2 years while the other student {Student A} is suspended for one year. This decision was given to the students in October of 2024, following an investigation which found claims made by the university to be unsubstantiated. An appeal was filed in November however delays by both the university and the VIU Student Union postponed the hearings to February of 2025.

VIU claims that peaceful demonstrations—including sit-ins, signage, and chalk messages—inflicted "severe trauma" on staff and warranted a danger rating of 9/10, a rating reserved for assault and stalking. It is appalling that VIU would place student protests—an exercise of fundamental rights—at nearly the highest level of a so-called danger scale while universities in Gaza are being bombed into rubble, and the very students they suspended have endured the trauma of losing their families and homes to the genocide. These students also faced targeted harassment on campus, with their bag searched by the head of HR, and their presence profiled by security who claimed to recognize students by “body shape”. It has not escaped our notice that VIU originally claimed the protests involved 25 students but ultimately only investigated and punished two Muslim Palestinian women. Even more disturbingly, despite an investigation finding the claims against them to be unsubstantiated, these students were still suspended.

This blatant suppression of student activism contradicts VIU’s stated commitments to justice and reconciliation, appearing to only uphold such values when convenient. Otherwise, they react with punitive measures, including lawsuits, suspensions, and misinformation campaigns.

Further details: pse.nanaimo@proton.me