University of Wisconsin-Madison Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) member Vignesh Ramachandran denied responsibility for three non-academic misconduct charges related to the May 2024 pro-Palestine encampment during an open disciplinary hearing Monday.
On Aug.16, two UW-Madison students, Ramachandran and Dahlia Saba, received letters from Associate Director of the UW-Madison Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS) Ryan Podolak charging them with three violations related to the encampment based partly off of a guest column the two co-authored in the Capital Times.
Ramachandran’s sanctions are, according to Podolak, “a formal way to communicate that policy was violated without any restriction.” He also referred to the sanctions as the “least punitive” consequence he could face.
Podolak layed out evidence accusing Ramachandran of participating and assisting in planning for the pro-Palestine encampment. Much of the focus was on the language in the op-ed article, including the word “we” and how it could indicate belonging to the encampment. Podolak pointed out to the committee specific instances within the article that used the word “we.”
Ramachandran pushed back on these accusations related to the encampment, while acknowledging being a “proud” member of SJP.
“We are students who belong to the university community. Our usage of we and our explicitly refers to this aspect of belonging and identity,” Ramachandran said. “The usage of the collective brings people into movements.”
Ramachandran also said Podolak “puts forth no evidence that I planned or carried out the encampment.”
Ramachandran referenced the Palestine Legal letter to the university calling on the charges to be dropped due to “numerous constitutional violations.”
Approximately 30 to 40 students were investigated for alleged non-academic misconduct during the pro-Palestine encampment. Several protesters had sanctions recommended against them.
Saba’s hearing will take place Friday.
