Imagine being punished by your university—not for breaking the law, or causing any disruption on campus, but for peacefully standing up for what you believe in, off campus, as a private citizen.
That’s what’s happening to seven Tulane students, including Preston Seligman, Rory Macdonald, Cameron McLaren, and Adelaide Ritzman. Their so-called “offense”? Attending a peaceful protest against the detention of a pro-Palestinian activist on public streets, organized by a group — Â鶹´«Ă˝IOS for a Democratic Society (SDS) — that Tulane no longer recognizes.
There was no violence. No disruption. Just students exercising their right to speak out as citizens.
Now, Tulane is threatening harsh disciplinary action. Ritzman has already been sanctioned with two years of probation and 20 hours of community service—for simply showing up to a protest.
This isn’t just overreach. It’s a betrayal of Tulane’s own promises to uphold students’ rights to free expression and association. Rights that don’t end at the edge of campus.
This isn’t just about one protest. It’s about whether students can safely participate in off-campus civic life without fear of retaliation. The First Amendment protects that right—and Tulane should too.
Tell Tulane University President Michael Fitts: Drop the charges. Stop punishing students for peaceful, off-campus political expression. Protect free speech. Email President Fitts today and remind him that Tulane’s commitment to free expression must mean something—even when it's inconvenient.
