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Cal Poly San Luis Obispo pro-Palestinian professor suspended

June 7, 2025

Shanae Aurora Martinez

By KAREN VELIE

A Cal Poly San Luis Obispo professor has been suspended for one month without pay for her actions during an on-campus pro-Palestinian protest.

Officers arrested professor Shanae Aurora Martínez three times in four months in 2024; once for allegedly battering an officer during a protest, several weeks later for drunk driving, and months later for unlawful assembly and obstruction of a thoroughfare during another protest. Martínez is an assistant professor of English specializing in Indigenous literature.

Initially facing a two-quarter suspension without pay for unprofessional conduct, a Faculty Hearing Committee proposed a one-month suspension several weeks ago. Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong approved the suspension on Friday.

Martinez’s suspension begins on the first day of the fall quarter – Sept. 11.

During a pro-Palestinian protest at Cal Poly on Jan. 23, 2024, a small group of protestors dressed in all black and wearing masks attempted to push though barricades.

Even though most of the 30 to 40 protestors were peaceful, the small group repeatedly attempted to push though barricades and into a job fair, which Cal Poly said was not open to the public.

Officers arrested eight people, including Martínez, who was charged with misdemeanor battery of a peace officer after she allegedly pushed the barricade into officers.

Three weeks later, a CHP officer arrested Martínez for drunk driving.

On May 23, 2024, pro-Palestinian protesters blocked the California Boulevard entrance to Cal Poly. Officers arrived to find wooden barricades and three students chained together in the roadway. There were a total of 15 to 20 people involved in the protest.

After officers ordered the protestors to stop blocking the roadway, Martinez allegedly told students they could legally walk back and fourth across the crosswalk and continue blocking traffic.

Officers then arrested eight people: four students, three people unrelated to the campus, and Jay Erker – a lecturer in the chemistry and biochemistry department.

Then, on July 15, 2024, the SLO County District Attorney’s Office charged Martinez with unlawful assembly and obstruction of a thoroughfare regarding the May 23 protest.

Martinez is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on June 17.

In regards to the drunk driving charge, Martinez pleaded no contest.

Martinez has a hearing on July 23 related to a request for misdemeanor diversion, this one regarding her charges of unlawful assembly and obstruction of a thoroughfare.

Court misdemeanor diversion is a program that was created by the California Legislature in 2020 to divert minor misdemeanor offenses out of court.

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17 Comments
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This “professor” obviously has way too much time on her hands to be acting like a spoiled brat college student. How many arrests will it take before she is let go? Is this what was meant by DEI? Shameful!


31

I would never pay a school to teach my kids that employed her… or anyone like her… clean house univestities…


23

Drunk Driving = 1 month suspension???, seems normal for the protected class, but lets wait for her to appeal the suspension and then for it to quietly go away.


24

What a looser. She can hate Jews in her spare time now.


20

I believe in due process for American citizens and those here legally. If you entered the country illegally I believe you are entitled to nothing. You don’t belong here and you should be shown the door because you are a criminal. I pay taxes so why would I be interested in the funds I pay to the federal government be wasted on long, expensive trials for those who have abused those of us citizens.


86

Mitch C.- You are very wrong and misinformed. In fact you should fire your civics teacher. Under the 5th Amendent, any person (e.g., legal, illegal) SHALL be provided Due Process. This is in the U.S. Constitution. This is the Law.

Rather than hating, consider reading books, maybe educating yourself.


https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/amdt5-6-2-3/ALDE_00013726/


-19

Wildrnes: I hate bullies. Your rush to judgment is both sad and petty. Perhaps you should fire your civics teacher as well as your English teacher. Mitch C’s comment stated that they “believe” that due process should be reserved for citizens and our Constitution absolutely gives them the right to state that “belief.”


I am happy to identify the several amendments that give them those rights as those are the same amendments that give you the right to your opinion.


Separately, the 5th amendment is not absolute. While the 5th amendment does provide protections for “any person” those protections remain qualified. There are several instances occurring over centuries where our Supreme Court has determined that no due process rights exist to aliens.


24

Students: When contemplating actions that may be illegal, be sure to take advice from someone who is not a criminal law attorney. In the alternative, have your bail money available.


47

C’mon, fire her already. These people never learn. Please check her immigration status while you’re at it.


80

What makes you think she’s an immigrant? Is it the color of her skin? Is it her name? Is it because she’s a woman? Or is it because you were raised to hate people you don’t agree with?


-76

There’s no way that the “value” she brings to Cal Poly outweighs the grief her BS brings. Wouldn’t be tolerated in the private sector.


84

Have a good laugh, ask your average “Pro Palestinian” protester to find Palestine on a map.


64

You might also ask them which river and which sea.


14

A violently anti-social drunk driver.


I’m confused about what she could possibly teach our kids that is good?


Some colleges are noted for their outstanding football program, some for their world class science and engineering, a couple for their renowned marching bands, others for their life changing medical breakthroughs.


Cal Poly SLO? We’ve got violently anti-social drunk driving professors of marginal subjects, which extend any real knowledge supporting a basis for future employment or success. Woohoooo!


72

Get a grip and calm down. She’s one of a tiny handful of antisocial n’eer-do-wells that Cal Poly doesn’t need.


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