reply to MACA part 3
“SJP boycotted their June 2024 disciplinary hearings, explaining on EJC’s Instagram page, that Rutgers had threatened them with “state violence” and was using psychological warfare. It is unclear what action was taken by Rutgers in response to their failure to appear and the numerous violations of disciplinary procedures, aside from with regard to the underlying charges which were the subject of those hearings.”
Given the quotes in the last response, these accusations aren’t just conspiracy theories.
“Their militaristic defiance of Rutgers’ rules and policies along with their abhorrent social media posts regarding these proceedings, should be in and of themselves enough to permanently remove them from Rutgers.”
The relationship between students and university discipline is not a legal one. The university holds all the official power, and as adults, students are not obligated to participate in proceedings they believe breach the contract they signed with the institution. The SJP has made it clear in their posts that they view these hearings as being conducted in violation of Rutgers' official disciplinary procedures. When there is a dispute between parties over the implementation of a contract, it should be resolved in the courts. This is not middle school, where students can be suspended at will. Students pay for their education, making them the customers of the university. As with any customer service scenario, the customer’s concerns should be addressed and resolved.
“Students cannot simply reject and/or otherwise decide laws, rules and policies do not apply to them. As students, they are bound by Rutgers policies and state and local laws; compliance is not optional.”
The university cannot choose when it is convenient to follow it’s official policies.
When Rutgers attempted to ban SJP, it faced significant backlash. Many student organizations rallied on Instagram using the hashtag #WeAreAllSJP, demonstrating that SJP and EJC have substantial support among active students. MACA's issue isn't with the existence or activities of SJP and EJC; they are frustrated by their popularity. If these groups are banned, new ones will inevitably emerge, as highlighted by the banner raised by BURN.NJ: “Rutgers can’t stop student power.” Neither can MACA!