Following the invasion of Gaza in December 2008 and January 2009, the university community was shocked by events portraying the reality of the situation in a ghettoized Gaza — one of the most densely populated areas in the world — that went to lengths to expose a Palestinian narrative that is so often suppressed, leaving Palestinians voiceless and stripped of their humanity.

Activists and students banded together across numerous organizations to shed light on this blatant violation of human dignity and the ongoing brutal Israeli policies under occupation. Done and done.

While you may not be hearing about the crisis in Palestine as adamantly through U.S. media outlets, the situation overseas is far from normal. UMD Students for Justice in Palestine, a newly founded student organization, stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and speaks out against the racist and inhumane policies of Israel imposed on another people.

The second annual Palestinian Solidarity Week did not come without pressure from both students and university administration, streaming from those who felt that such a week would be offensive to other students.

It was deemed inappropriate to use university funding (i.e. state dollars) to co-sponsor Palestinian Solidarity Week, despite numerous instances where other advocacy groups at the university have received university funding and co-sponsorship.

It is clear the university decision to order withdrawal of complete co-sponsorship by Nyumburu Cultural Center and the Office of Multicultural Involvement and Communtiy Advocacy for the week has come from pressures stemming from a specific university community and other outside sources — those that are are unwilling to accommodate a narrative different from their own. Co-sponsorship from both the MICA office in Stamp Student Union and Nyumburu came to help create an honest platform for discussion and exchange of ideas by allowing a voice from a narrative that is barely ever heard, particularly on this campus.

However, when the university deemed the week to be too political — political is such a relative term — for co-sponsorship and for taking a stance, university administrators were in fact taking a stance by filtering which controversial issues they choose to recognize and support.

A public university should be open to supporting students in their endeavors and work to provide space for all student voices. Basing university decisions on incoming pressure from a distinct university community as well as outside sources fails students who are investing time and money to attend this university and seek a real education.

The Palestinian cause cannot continue to be suppressed and hidden. It cannot continue to be falsely labeled as terrorism.

The overwhelming support for UMD Students for Justice in Palestine throughout the student community shows the urgent need for administrators to stop discriminating in terms of social justice. It is what it is. No amount of protesters, letters and phone calls can stop people from their right to resist or advocate on behalf of an oppressed people. Social justice cannot discriminate or be selectively silent.

Despite the pressure and resistance to Palestinian Solidarity Week, it sought to attain a clear and defined goal: awareness of a very real humanitarian crisis and the brutality of life under illegal occupation.

Mission accomplished.

Hira Zeb is a junior Arabic and government and politics major. She can be reached at hzeb at gmail dot com.