Purchase student who yanked pro-Israel banner from admin's office sues over suspension

A SUNY Purchase sophomore who removed an administrator's "We Stand With Israel" banners from their office window sued the school last month, seeking to overturn his subsequent suspension.

The student, Cesar Paul, alleges that the administrator, Paul Nicholson, attacked him after he removed the banners from Nicholson's window last year.

"A staff member can never place his hands on or assault a student, particularly one who posed no physical threat whatsoever," Paul says in his lawsuit.

Nicholson is Purchase's director of special programs and its ombudsman. In his lawsuit, Paul says that Nicholson's flags made him and other students feel "completely threatened and unsafe."

Since Oct. 7, 2023, the Israel-Hamas war has caused tensions over the conflict to erupt on college campuses. Students at schools across the country set up encampments seeking to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinian people.

An encampment was briefly established at SUNY Purchase, though dozens of protesters participating in it were arrested on trespassing charges. The Westchester County District Attorney allowed most of them to enroll in a diversion program that will result in the charges being dropped .

In December, Paul went into Nicholson's office and removed the pro-Israel banners from the window, at which point he says Nicholson "violently attacked" him by pushing him to the ground.

Ultimately, the school initiated a disciplinary process and suspended Paul for 15 weeks, he says. Paul will be on probation until next May.

Paul, who is Black, was deemed to have violated several provisions of the school's code of conduct, including charges related to threats and intimidation, taking other people's property and failing to respect office procedures.

"The harsh sanction handed down by Purchase sends a dangerous message to the entire college community and most especially to its BIPOC students: Purchase faculty can physically harm students, particularly black students, with utter impunity," Paul said in his lawsuit. "When it comes to ensuring that its black students are protected and heard, Purchase falls woefully short."

Paul says his discipline was a form of illegal retaliation against the expression of political speech and argues that it was excessive, given the circumstances.

Reached for comment, SUNY Purchase President Milagros "Milly" Pena said in an email, "Purchase College unequivocally stands by our disciplinary process. Purchase College will never tolerate threats, harassment, or intimidation. We remain steadfast in our commitment to a safe and hate-free environment with zero tolerance for bias, hatred, or discrimination of any type, including antisemitism."

Asher Stockler is a reporter for The Journal News and the USA Today Network New York. You can send him an email at astockler@lohud.com . Reach him securely: asher.stockler@protonmail.com .

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Purchase student who yanked pro-Israel banner from admin's office sues over suspension