A Cal Poly student was arrested for his involvement in a pro-Palestine protest that left the Financial Aid and Student Accounts Office vandalized, according to SLO police logs. He could be expelled, according to the campus Social Justice Coalition.
On June 4, five pro-Palestinian protestors entered Cal Poly’s Financial Aid and Student Accounts office and spray-painted graffiti on walls, furniture and computers.
Two suspects were identified and arrested after the protest. One is Theodore Lee, a current Cal Poly student, according to university spokesperson Keegan Koberl. The other is Alejandro Bupara, a former student, Mustang News confirmed, based on old club postings. Both were booked on suspicion of felony vandalism, criminal conspiracy, and wearing masks to evade identification, according to the San Luis Obispo County Jail log.
READ HERE: Pro-Palestinian protesters vandalize financial aid office
Neither suspect was formally charged by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, but both have faced prior arrests related to pro-Palestine demonstrations on campus, according to the Social Justice Coalition.
University President Jeffrey Armstrong condemned the protest in a letter sent to the campus community following the incident. He described the vandalism as “shortsighted, disgusting and illegal,” and wrote that “anyone who views this kind of activity as acceptable has no place at Cal Poly and will be rooted out.”
Graffiti comes after antisemitism congressional hearing
Armstrong recently testified in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce during a hearing titled “Beyond the Ivy League: Stopping the Spread of Antisemitism on American Campuses.” Armstrong testified beside Depaul and Haverford leadership.
READ HERE: Cal Poly’s President went to Capitol Hill. He spoke for just 8 minutes
During the hearing, the committee directed much of its harsh questioning to Haverford College President Wendy Raymond and DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel. President Armstrong, on the other hand, received compliments from committee members.
After receiving the first letter on April 21, Armstrong set out to launch initiatives to combat antisemitism: mandatory student and employee training, the new Presidential Antisemitism Task Force and the development of a new endowed chair of Jewish studies.
However, following the vandalism, the committee sent a follow-up letter to President Armstrong in June asking for clarification on his testimony.
Activists claim university is working against free expression
The Social Justice Coalition claimed a student is facing expulsion for “being present with a sign outside of the Administration Building.” The group did not name Lee directly, but he is the only student publicly identified in connection to the protest.
Cal Poly confirmed that Lee is a student at Cal Poly. But, privacy concerns prohibit the university from discussing or acknowledging any specific student conduct matters, according to Koberl.
The coalition responded by calling Armstrong’s remarks a “direct violation” of the university’s commitment to free inquiry and expression. They are demanding that Cal Poly drop all disciplinary action against Lee and refrain from criminalizing student activism.
READ HERE: Students and faculty engage in second “die-in” and walkouts in support of Palestine
The coalition then criticized the university’s lack of response to separate incidents of harassment on campus. The coalition also cited ongoing concerns about a man allegedly seen wearing blackface and a shirt displaying a racial slur.
As of July 10, authorities have not identified or located the other three suspects involved with the vandalism. Neither Lee or Bupara were in jail custody as of July 10, according to the Sheriff’s Office inmate databases.
Krithi Sankar contributed to this article.