Swarthmore Charges Student Activists Over 'Violent' Protest Materials

Eight students face possible expulsion for distributing literature criticizing college board members' ties to Israel.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Eight students at Swarthmore College are facing potential expulsion after the administration accused them of distributing protest materials that included 'threatening and intimidating imagery' and 'promoted potential violence on campus.' The college says the materials, which criticized board members' ties to Israel, violated the student Code of Conduct.

Why it matters

This case highlights ongoing tensions between student activists and college administrations over the limits of free speech and protest on campus, particularly when the materials are perceived as threatening or promoting violence, even if unintentionally.

The details

The college sent letters to seven students identifying several 'charges' that may violate the student Code of Conduct, including 'bullying and intimidation,' 'endangerment or affliction of physical harm,' and 'unauthorized use of college resources and services.' The letters allege the students distributed flyers featuring 'threatening and intimidating imagery' and pamphlets that 'promoted potential violence on campus,' such as placing crosshairs over photos of board members and using phrases like 'necessarily more violent' and that students 'must put [their] bodies on the line.'

  • The protest materials were distributed on Swarthmore's campus in February 2026.

The players

Swarthmore College

A private liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Erin Kaplan

The associate dean and director of student conduct at Swarthmore College.

Eight Swarthmore students

Students who distributed protest materials criticizing the college's board of managers for their ties to Israel.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The materials included imagery and language it viewed as threatened, intimidated, and/or promoted potential violence on campus.”

— Erin Kaplan, Associate Dean and Director of Student Conduct (universitybusiness.com)

What’s next

The college will decide whether to expel the eight students charged for distributing the protest materials.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between free speech and campus safety, as college administrations grapple with how to respond to student activism that they perceive as threatening, even if unintentionally so.