Former UC San Diego student Emily Lucas filed a lawsuit against the University of California Board of Regents over disciplinary actions related to her involvement in the 2024 Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Lucas alleges that UCSD police unfairly arrested her and that university officials subjected her to an unjust policy violation investigation.

The lawsuit, filed on May 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California by attorneys representing Lucas, states that she participated in the encampment as a medic, not a protester. 

The lawsuit claims that UCSD police officers did not determine whether Lucas participated in the encampment or any illegal activities, but rather arrested her based on her proximity to the encampment.

Lucas is one of 64 individuals who were arrested on May 6, 2024, following an order by police officers for protestors to disperse from the encampment.

Lucas was released from the San Diego Central Jail with no charges after being held for 13 hours. The complaint states that Lucas contracted hepatitis A due to crowded and unsanitary conditions while held in jail.

Following the arrest, Lucas was investigated by UCSD for policy violations. She was found guilty of participating in unlawful assembly and failure to comply, resulting in one year of academic probation and requiring her to take a course on “practical decision-making.”

According to the lawsuit, UCSD did not allow Lucas to have representation during the investigation or present her own evidence and witnesses to defend her case.

In a statement to The UCSD Guardian, Kylee Belanger, one of Lucas’ attorneys, described UCSD’s investigation process.

“These disciplinary processes treat you like a child; an adult can make choices,” Belanger said, adding that the investigations “actually put her in danger” by requesting Lucas “make statements that put her in face of actual criminal prosecution.”

As a result of the investigation, Lucas was unable to receive her diploma from UCSD for nearly a year, which the complaint states interfered with her ability to seek employment.

Belanger commented on the withholding of Lucas’ degree following the investigation.

“My understanding is this was part of the punishment process,” Belanger said.

Belanger also connected the case to her own experiences on campus: 

“I was a UCSD student. … I am appalled that they would treat someone this way.”