Pitt Students, Hillel JUC react to anti-Zionist group’s reinstatement

Matan Rieger was surprised when a federal judge ended the suspension of Students for Justice in Palestine’s University of Pittsburgh chapter last week.

The university suspended the group in March for six months, saying it had improperly attempted to influence a disciplinary committee while it was deliberating on whether an SJP-sponsored protest at Hillman Library violated university policies.

“This lawsuit alleged it was a free speech issue and that’s not what it was at all, at least to my understanding,” Rieger said. “It was a procedural issue with the university and their regulations about student organizations. I’m amazed that a federal judge can get involved and override the university’s interpretation of their policies.”

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Rieger is an engineering student and president of Pitt’s Students Supporting Israel chapter. He said he’s afraid that the decision will have a lasting impact at the school and on how SJP operates.

“At this point they’ve shown that even if they get brought up on a conduct hearing and are suspended, ultimately Pitt can’t determine what happens, so they might as well try their luck again, especially since, if a lawsuit is brought it would likely end up before the same judge in the same court,” he said.

The judge’s decision, Rieger believes, may cause SJP to be less concerned about the consequences of its actions. That is troubling, he opined, given that the group already has a tendency of doing things “beyond what organizations should do on campus. That’s what got them into the situation in the first place.”

Rieger said the federal decision could make Jewish students feel less safe — a concern heightened by SJP’s collaboration with organizations that are not recognized student groups and its promotion of off-campus events on social media.

Despite the actions of SJP, Rieger said he has been impressed with how Pitt’s administration has handled the group.

“I’ve been very proud that it was my university that was actually able to stand up and suspend SJP,” he said. “That’s something that hasn’t been done at many universities.”

Rieger is also pleased that Pitt has created a working group on antisemitism and is anxious to see the fruits of its work.

Junior Sadie Rothaus is also concerned about the early lifting of SJP’s suspension.

“I kind of knew it was coming, but there’s always the ever present fear that reinstating a group like this will ignite another big wave of antisemitic violence and hate speech that’s going to target Jewish students,” she said.

Rothaus was quick to note that SJP hasn’t been a direct cause of violence against Jewish students on campus, but said it’s important for groups that use the shield of free speech to present factual information that doesn’t give rise to fear and discrimination.

Activities on and around Pitt’s campus have had a visceral effect on Rothaus.

“I remember walking out of the Cathedral of Learning and there was a bunch of shouting and a big protest,” she said. “There were people with signs and flags in support of Palestine. I heard chanting and the speeches as I was crossing the street and just froze in my tracks as unbothered students rushed past me. I don’t remember what was said, but it was something despicable about Jews and Israel.”

Rothaus said she was shocked that something like that could happen in the heart of Pitt’s campus.

Reinstating SJP opens the possibility to similar protests and more encampments, like Pitt experienced in 2024, she said.

That is something she doesn’t want to experience again, she said, especially since it forced her to reconsider showing outward signs of her Jewishness.

“I wear my Star of David every day and I remember my dad had a conversation with me about it,” she said. “I was going back and forth about taking it off, but then I realized that it would be the worst thing I could do. But I did try and avoid the encampments. I didn’t want to inadvertently put myself at risk.”

While Rothaus is concerned about SJP’s reinstatement she’s also pragmatic about the right to protest.

“I know that the Students for Justice in Palestine’s core identity is not to threaten Jews,” she said. “I think it’s honorable to protest for justice on behalf of struggling people, but when that rhetoric leads to antisemitism, it’s incredibly hard to see the positive in people’s intentions.”

Students aren’t the only ones disheartened by the decision to reinstate SJP early.

Daniel Marcus, executive director and CEO of the Hillel Jewish University Center, said he was “deeply disappointed” by the judge’s decision.

SJP has proven to be problematic for Jewish students, Marcus said, and has made them feel less safe.

Hillel JUC, though, is there for support, he said.

“We will continue to ensure the safety and security of every Jewish student and work closely with our partners at the university to do so,” he said. PJC

David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.