Seven ISU students who protested the Gaza war plead guilty to trespassing

MCLEAN COUNTY (25News Now) – The criminal part of a legal battle between Illinois State University and seven students who protested Israel’s war on Hamas with a sit-in outside the ISU president’s office last May is over.

In McLean County Court, all seven pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing on a building, with the original charge of criminal trespassing on government property reduced.

Hovey Hall, ISU’s administrative building, was closed for the day and students were arrested for not leaving the building.

Steve Lazaroff, Jomareun Richardson, Kevin Dion, Joseph Bloom-Boedefeld, Rebekah Mangels, Aiden Marcikic and Daniel Kimball all received 18 months of court supervision, which is less restrictive than probation. They were also ordered to pay fines.

ISU has not commented on the disciplinary action taken against the students. But a letter signed by at least 70 faculty members said it was unacceptable for the administration to punish students for peacefully expressing their political views.

The criminal case is separate from a lawsuit filed by students who accuse the university of violating their constitutional rights. The students claim university leaders treat them differently than students protesting other causes, and they claim the administration has unfairly sided with Israel in the years-long war.

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office is representing ISU in the lawsuit, which was moved from McLean County to U.S. District Court in Peoria in August.

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