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The University of Texas at Austin has begun disciplining students who were arrested in pro-Palestinian demonstrations in April, scolding them for their actions but offering them a path to avoid suspension.

In letters sent out to students this week, first reported by KUT, university officials said it would be appropriate to suspend them for their actions during the protests but would give them the option to take “deferred suspension” instead, a form of probation that would allow students to remain in class and keep the disciplinary action from appearing on their final transcripts.

“Recognizing our commitment to educational growth, we want to offer you an alternative path to avoid suspension by proving that you have learned from this experience,” reads one of the letters obtained by The Texas Tribune.

Students who choose deferred suspension must agree to take an exam testing their knowledge of the university’s rules and agree not to appeal the decision. The status would be active until July 7, 2025.

Those who decline that option would be suspended, the letter says. Students may also appeal the disciplinary sanctions through a university hearing.

Ari Lenahan, a UT-Austin student set to graduate in December, said he was relieved the university offered him deferred suspension since students at other universities across the country are facing harsher punishments after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He said it may be the best choice for him since he aims to graduate this year.

“It’s a lot clearer where I stand now, at least in the university’s eyes,” he said.

Lenahan still has a hold on his account preventing him from registering for classes in the fall but said the letter he received Wednesday states any holds will be removed once his case is resolved.

Anne-Marie Jardine, a recent graduate, received a sanction letter concerning her involvement in an April 24 pro-Palestinian demonstration. Jardine was told she would be under deferred suspension for one year if she were to re-enroll at UT-Austin. Jardine said she hasn’t received her official diploma from the university yet.

Many other students under investigation have not yet been informed about how the university plans to move forward with their cases. Sam Law, a PhD candidate who was arrested on April 29, said that he expects the university will contact him soon.

More than 130 protesters were arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on UT-Austin’s campus in late April. In resolute efforts to dispel the protesters, law enforcement at the time deployed pepper spray and flash-bang explosives and charged students with horses. State troopers were deployed by Gov. Greg Abbott to help quash the protests and had a hand in the arrests.

Those arrested were charged with criminal trespassing but Travis County Attorney Delia Garza declined to pursue those charges.

In the aftermath of the protest, many students, faculty and free speech advocates questioned UT-Austin’s heavy-handed response to the protests and criticized state GOP leaders’ support of the arrests. Just a few years ago, Abbott had championed state legislation that protected free speech on college campuses, leading free speech advocates to ask who gets to enjoy free speech protections in Texas.

UT-Austin leaders, meanwhile, have vowed to carry out discipline against students who violated campus policies. Seniors in the class of 2024 were afraid their diplomas would be withheld, though they were permitted to join graduation ceremonies in the spring.

Sneha Dey contributed to this story.

Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune’s journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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A police officer in Austin, Texas, is facing a criminal investigation after multiple disturbing videos were released to authorities that allegedly show him abusing his 2-year-old son.

Austin police officer Cameron Caldwell surrendered himself to a county jail after being accused of child abuse by the mother of his children, according to the Cedar Park Police Department.

Court documents obtained by KVUE state that the allegations stem from a domestic disturbance that took place at Caldwell’s home on June 17.

Caldwell’s partner showed police five videos, including one of “great concern,” that allegedly show Caldwell hitting and abusing one of his two children.

The videos were recorded by a Nest camera posted in the kids’ bedroom.

In one video, a 2-year-old child is seen trying to protect himself before a man believed to be Caldwell picks him up, “violently” hits him on his backside, then strikes him eight times before dropping him on the ground, according to the local outlet.

The child is seen “crying hysterically” and trying to crawl away before Caldwell picks him up again and slams him on a mattress, court filings state. Caldwell then hits the toddler in the face three times and covers him with a blanket.

Caldwell’s 4-year-old son told detectives that his father once hurled a monster truck at his back and slapped him in the face in another incident. He also alleged that Caldwell hits him multiple times when he’s in trouble and forces him to do push-ups.

Caldwell is the same officer who was caught on video pepper-spraying a handcuffed Black man at the South by Southwest film and music festival in 2016.

Tyrone Wilson, who had traveled to Austin that year from Chicago, was arrested for resisting arrest. After officers placed the 25-year-old in a police van, he was heard kicking the door. Caldwell opened the door to the back seat and told him to stop kicking, then pepper-sprayed him in the face.

An arrest affidavit stated that Wilson had been combative toward officers, and one cop had used a stun gun on him during the arrest. Austin Police policy dictates that officers can use pepper spray on a “violent” suspect, but Wilson was physically restrained and showed no signs of aggression when Caldwell maced him.

Caldwell faced a disciplinary hearing and negotiated an agreement with the Austin police chief to face a 45-day suspension from his position for the incident.

“In the heat of the moment where you have a guy kicking and screaming and acting a fool, he made a decision, it was the wrong decision,” Austin Police Chief Art Acevedo said at the time, according to the local outlet. “But what he has indicated to us through this process is that he gets it.”

As for the most recent alleged incidents involving Caldwell’s children, the Austin Police Department said it’s aware of the investigation being carried out by the Cedar Park police force.

Caldwell faces two charges of injury to a child.

APD has placed him on restricted duty for the time being and launched an administrative investigation.