Oklahoma State University Student Group Sends Email Promoting Pro-Palestinian Events

An email sent to Oklahoma State University’s psychology department solicited students to participate in a “Week of Rage” hosted by the school’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP).

The email, sent by the psychology department’s Student Diversity Committee (SDC), said that the “Week of Rage” would begin on October 7 – the anniversary of the terrorist attack on Israel that killed 1,200 and wounded more than 5,000.

“Since it’s been a year of genocide in Palestine, the students are continuing their commitment to the liberation of the Palestinian people and the end of the Zionist regime through a week of action from October 7^th-11^th,” the email said, according to a copy posted to X.

The official diversity committee at Oklahoma State University’s psychology department sent an email soliciting students to participate in the “Week of Rage” sponsored by SJP.

The first event is on Oct. 7th to celebrate the massacre. This is systemic antisemitism. pic.twitter.com/yQbatSzSwj

— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) October 5, 2024

The email listed the events for each day of the week, which includes a “Vigil For Our Martyrs” on Monday night, a “Demand Divestment” protest on Tuesday, a bake sale on Wednesday, a panel on Thursday, and a movie on Friday.

In response to the post about the email, Oklahoma State’s official X account said the email “was student-authored and distributed by a student group. It was not reviewed or endorsed by the university.”

This email was student-authored and distributed by a student group. It was not reviewed or endorsed by the university.

— Oklahoma State Univ. (@okstate) October 5, 2024

In a statement to The Daily Wire, OSU further said:

This email was student-authored and distributed only within the psychology department by a student group on campus. It was not reviewed or endorsed by the university’s administration. Student use of university email to distribute political content is protected by the First Amendment. 

At OSU, we support free speech and an environment that encourages the sharing of different ideas and perspectives. We believe a robust public discourse is a contribution to the process of addressing society’s most pressing challenges, which is our charge as a land-grant institution.

We appreciate the opportunity to educate students and the public about the First Amendment and protected vs. unprotected speech on public campuses.

OSU didn’t respond to a Daily Wire inquiry about whether there would be consequences for those behind the email, who used a university mailing list and the official sounding “osupsychdiversity” account name to send the email.

The language of the email from the SDC would appear to violate OSU’s current Code of Conduct, specifically its rule against discrimination.

“Discrimination includes but is not limited to, disparate treatment directed toward an individual or group of individuals based on sex, race, color, sexual orientation, age, status as a veteran, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sex stereotype, national origin, religion or a qualified individual with a disability that adversely affects their employment or education,” the code says.

It is also unclear whether the SDC is a student group in the same way that SJP is, since the SDC isn’t a chapter of a national group and is specific to the school.

Other universities are also facing anti-Semitism on the anniversary of the terrorist attacks against Israel. Protesters at the City University of New York vandalized the school’s Advanced Science Research Center, the New York Post reported. Pro-Palestinian protesters have also gathered at Columbia University, but Pro-Israel protesters are drowning them out with chants of “Bring them home,” referring to the 97 people – including 7 Americans – still being held hostage in Gaza.