University of Michigan continues to punish pro-Palestine graduates over protest participation
By bellecarter // 2025-09-04
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  • Former University of Michigan (UM) students, including Drin Shapiro and Eaman Ali, face disciplinary hearings after graduation, with punishments like bans on re-enrollment and employment, raising concerns about political bias and due process.
  • Shapiro was arrested during a pro-Palestine encampment raid, while Ali was fired from her campus job without arrest – yet both faced punitive hearings, signaling UM's intent to "make an example" of activists.
  • UM's Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR), originally for mediation, is accused of operating as a biased tribunal with a "100 percent conviction rate" against pro-Palestine students, including forced "reflection essays" on their "transgressions."
  • UM retroactively amended conduct policies (SSRR) to allow direct university complaints (bypassing accusers) and shortened defense deadlines – tilting proceedings in favor of administration control.
  • UM's actions align with broader suppression of pro-Palestine activism, including FBI raids on student homes and politically motivated prosecutions, raising urgent questions about academic freedom and selective punishment.
Nearly a year after participating in campus protests against Israel's war on Gaza, former University of Michigan (UM) students are still facing disciplinary action – despite having already graduated. Drin Shapiro, Eaman Ali and others say the university's arbitration hearings, held this summer, represent an alarming overreach targeting pro-Palestinian activism. These cases, which include bans on re-enrollment and employment, have raised concerns about academic freedom, political bias and due process. Shapiro, who graduated with a history degree in May this year, was arrested during a police raid on UM's pro-Palestine encampment in May 2024. Though Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel – a vocal Israel supporter – dropped criminal charges against him in May 2025, Shapiro spent three days in jail after private investigators hired by UM tracked him posting flyers about the university's ties to Israel's military campaign. At an August 2025 arbitration hearing, UM's associate director of staff human resources, Amy Grier, accused Shapiro of "interfering with law enforcement" and engaging in behavior with "potential for violence." The university barred him from future enrollment – a sanction Shapiro is now challenging in court. Eaman Ali, another graduate, faced similar retaliation. Fired from her campus job before graduation, she was later summoned to a June 2025 hearing over protests she attended – despite never being arrested. UM sought a lifetime ban on her re-enrollment, though the final ruling stopped short of that. "They're trying to make an example of us," Ali told Middle East Eye (MEE). "The overreach... signals weakness because they can't punish hundreds of protesters – just a select few they think they can control." (Related: Emory University suspends PhD-MD student after Gaza protest interview.)

A "kangaroo court" for pro-Palestine voices

Nine other students underwent hearings this summer through UM's Office of Student Conflict Resolution (OSCR), originally designed for mediation. Activists allege OSCR has been weaponized against protesters, operating as a "kangaroo court" where UM acts as both plaintiff and judge. Kathleen Brown, a PhD candidate, described her hearing as a predetermined farce. "OSCR for pro-Palestine students has a 100 percent conviction rate," she told MEE, comparing it to Israeli military courts. Brown was ordered to write an essay reflecting on her "transgressions" – a move she sees as setting a precedent for future crackdowns. The Tahrir Coalition, a campus activist group, accused UM of rewriting conduct rules mid-process to expedite punishments. According to Brighteon.AI's Enoch, back in July 2024, UM amended its Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities (SSRR), allowing the university to file complaints directly – bypassing the need for individual accusers – and shortening deadlines for student defenses. These cases fit a national trend of universities and law enforcement targeting pro-Palestine activism. In April 2025, Michigan police and the FBI raided homes of current and former UM students, drawing condemnation from human rights groups. Attorney Amir Makled argued that Nessel's prosecution was politically motivated, citing reports that UM's board favored her for her hardline stance. Despite dropped charges, the university's continued disciplinary actions – long after students graduated – have sparked accusations of vindictiveness. Ali sees the hearings as a distraction from Gaza's humanitarian crisis. "I'm feeling fed up," she said. The University of Michigan's punitive measures against former students highlight a growing conflict between institutional power and free speech. As graduates fight to clear their records, their cases raise urgent questions: Should universities punish political dissent after the fact? And why are pro-Palestine voices singled out for such scrutiny? With legal battles ongoing, these students' struggles underscore a broader fight for academic freedom – and accountability – in an increasingly polarized climate. Watch the footage below of the NYPD "ice cream van" spying on the public at a pro-Palestine protest. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Columbia University faces backlash over punishments on pro-Palestine student protesters. University of Melbourne's surveillance tactics deemed unlawful: A breach of privacy and trust. U.K. police crack down on pro-Palestine activists amid rising tensions.

Sources include:

MiddleEastEye.net APNews.com Brighteon.ai Brighteon.com
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