On March 19, 2025, Tulane University’s Office of Student Conduct opened disciplinary investigations against seven students in connection with their attendance at an off-campus protest with an independent student group, the Together United Students for a Democratic Society (TUSDS).
TUSDS is the reconstituted form of Tulane Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a student group that the university banned in April 2024 for its role in organizing a pro-Palestinian student encampment. After SDS was banned, its members formed TUSDS, which exists independently from Tulane University and meets off campus. In January 2025, some Tulane University students reportedly received letters from the Office of Student Conduct informing them that activities associated with SDS would violate the university’s Code of Student Conduct. It was not clear what provision of the code such activities would violate; the code does not appear to explicitly bar association with off-campus groups.
On March 11, TUSDS organized a protest against the recent arrest of Columbia University student Mahmoud Kalil (see report) and against Tulane University’s decision to rename its Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. Around 40 students attended the protest, which began on a street outside of the university and continued as a march on public streets before rallying in a public area off campus.
On March 19 and 20, Tulane’s Office of Student Conduct informed five students that they face a “major matters” investigation, for attending a protest organized by a group prohibited from operating on campus.The penalties for major matters charges include suspension or expulsion. The university stated that the students’ participation in the protest was not protected under its policy on free expression because of SDS’s suspension, despite the fact that TUSDS is not formally associated with the university and the protest took place off campus. The five students were charged with (1) failing to comply with the directions of university officials; (2) disruptive or disorderly conduct; and (3) acting jointly to violate the student code of conduct. Two other students were also informed that they were under investigation and were later ordered to complete 20 hours of community service and put on a one year probation. At the time of writing, the disciplinary process for major matters violations had not concluded.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about a university extending disciplinary action against students for their peaceful exercise of off campus free expression and association in a group unaffiliated with the university. While universities have authority to regulate student conduct on campus and in university-related activities, extending disciplinary actions to expression or conduct unrelated to the university exceeds that authority and threatens student academic freedom and free expression.
Sources:
https://tulanehullabaloo.com/69150/news/seven-tulane-students-under-investigation-participation-off-campus-protest/
https://lailluminator.com/2025/03/31/tulane-protest/
https://www.nola.com/news/education/tulane-students-could-be-suspended-for-off-campus-protest/article_a7225f23-7d25-4949-bab1-86409574063f.html
https://www.thefire.org/cases/tulane-university-misconduct-charges-lodged-against-students-attending-lawful-campus-protest
https://conduct.tulane.edu/sites/default/files/2024-09/code_of_student_conduct_2024-2025.pdf