Sonoma State University president retires amid backlash over concessions to anti-Israel protesters

The president at Sonoma State University returned to retirement unexpectedly on Thursday, after he was put on administrative leave for "insubordination" related to concessions he made with anti-Israel protesters on the university campus.

Thousands of protesters have been arrested at colleges nationwide over unlawful anti-Israel encampments in recent weeks, including at Sonoma State, which is part of the California State University system.

President Mike Lee sent a memo on Tuesday that revealed he made concessions with the demonstrators in order to end the occupation, which included a promise to initiate an academic boycott of Israel, according to Politico. He also promised to form an advisory council that includes students with the activist group Students for Justice in Palestine.

Lee was then chastised for his memo, which California State University Chancellor Mildred García said was sent out without proper authorization. He was placed on administrative leave the next day, for insubordination, which marks the strongest punishment against a California university president over their handling of the protests.

“In my attempt to find agreement with one group of students, I marginalized other members of our student population and community,” Lee said in a memo to the campus on Wednesday. “I realize the harm that this has caused, and I take full ownership of it. I deeply regret the unintended consequences of my actions.”

Acting President Nathan Evans will take the reins the university while it searches for a new leader. Lee was originally the acting president of the university in 2022, when he came out of retirement to spearhead the university, but was officially named president in 2023. He is now going back into retirement.

"Everyone should be assured that while we are addressing campus administration and operations, our focus also is on fully celebrating Commencement and the activities surrounding it," Evans said in a statement on Thursday. "We will create spaces and places to process President Lee’s retirement and other recent developments as a community in the coming days and weeks. For now, I encourage all of us to focus on our graduates and their supporters."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.