Under Pressure LSE ends disciplinaries of the 7 students

London - The LSE's decision to conclude the disciplinary processes against the LSE7, following a robust student campaign and public outcry, marks a significant victory for the LSE7. The seven students, along with the rest of the student activists at LSE continue to demand the university divest from companies complicit in the ongoing genocide in Palestine.

After five months of intimidation tactics against the seven students—including actions that violated the university's own disciplinary policies, equated the student demonstration to a terrorist attack, banned the students from campus, and restricted their access to healthcare—the administration has informed the students via email that the precautionary measures have been lifted. Six of the seven students have been issued formal warnings on their student records, with a caution that any future allegations of misconduct could result in further disciplinary actions, whilst one student had the entire case against her dropped.

This marks a decisive victory for the LSE7 and a significant climb down for the under-fire LSE. The broader community, whose powerful campaign and public support was specifically cited by The LSE as the reason for dropping the disciplinary measures. The decision also followed public condemnation by two UN Special Rapporteurs, widespread media scrutiny, and a petition garnering thousands of signatures, exposing the university’s violations of the students' rights to free speech and assembly.

The LSE7 and student activists celebrate this victory and remain committed to advocating for Palestine and urging the university to divest from companies complicit in genocide—the original cause of their suspension. 

The conclusion of the disciplinary process according to the institution themselves was motivated by concerns over reputation rather than ethical principles, leaving the issue of safeguarding freedom of expression for anti-genocide voices on campus unresolved. This remains a critical issue, as LSE has exposed its true nature—becoming the first UK university to evict a pro-Palestine encampment, disciplining antigenocide voices, and being publicly criticised for systemic Islamophobia.

Naila Ahmed, head of Campaigns at CAGE International said: 
“CAGE has provided legal and moral support to the LSE7 throughout the disciplinary process, standing with the LSE student body in holding the university accountable for its mistreatment of student activists. This is a significant victory, one of many in the campaign to demand divestment from apartheid and genocide.”

One of the LSE7 said: 
"This is a victory for us and a testament to the power of collective action. While LSE tried to silence us, the LSE7 campaign exposed the institution’s complicity in genocide and pushed the university to back down. However, the fight is far from over. We demand justice for the four and a half months of intimidation we endured. Most importantly, we are determined to carry forward the fight for divestment and accountability.”