By Maxim Tamarov, News Staff
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) representatives met Tuesday with Laura A. Wankel, vice president of student affairs, and Robert O. Jose, associate dean for cultural and residential life, to discuss the reinstatement of the club for next semester.
“We discussed how to bring SJP’s voice back to campus,” Tori Porell, president of SJP, said. “Bob approached us and said that he didn’t think the suspension was appropriate. We proposed a plan to work with Bob. They said we would be on probation, but it wouldn’t change what we were aloud to do.”
In a letter forwarded to The News by SJP, the administration allegedly made a proposal to allow SJP to function under probation in the fall of 2014.
The News could not independently confirm the origin of this letter and Renata Nyul, director of communications at Northeastern, said she had no knowledge of such a letter.
“Throughout the probationary period, SJP may program, seek funding, reserve space and conduct business,” the letter said, “as long as there is conformance with the conditions [that the administration had set].”
“They sent us a version of it today that is quite different,” Porell, said on Wednesday. “I’m not sure if SJP is even reinstated.”
This other letter was forwarded to The News on Wednesday. This letter included a clause that reiterated the suspension of SJP until December 2014 and was signed by Wankel.
“After a thorough review of your appeal letter dated March 14, 2014, along with the facts and circumstances of the cases, I find the decision rendered is appropriate,” it stated.
SJP expressed frustration with the administration’s inconsistency.
“I think the university being willing to negotiate with us is a step showing that they have gotten pressure from the public outcry. But I think it’s really two-faced of them saying one thing and then sending us a letter saying something different,” Porell said.
Porell and others await a more concrete decision on the fate of SJP.
“Because of this pattern,” Porell said, “we don’t have much trust that they’re making this offering in good faith.”
Photo by Maria Amasanti.
