As controversy over his enrollment swirls, ASU says Kyle Rittenhouse is no longer a student



Kyle Rittenhouse broke down while testifying at his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis., on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

Kyle Rittenhouse is not a student at Arizona State University.

He said during his testimony that he was taking online classes at Arizona State University after being acquitted of all charges in his shooting and killing of two men and wounding of a third in the aftermath of Kenosha protests.

He said in interviews that he wants to study at the school.

The university confirmed that Rittenhouse was a non- degree-seeking online student for the session that started in October, although he hadn't gone through the admissions process. He is no longer a student according to the university.

He is not currently an enrollee, according to Jay Thorne. There was no action taken by the university.

Rittenhouse withdrew from classes or changed his status, but no information was provided by Thorne.

Protests have been taking place online from student groups demanding that the university remove Rittenhouse from classes.

Four left-leaning student organizations were expected to hold a rally and protest on the Tempe campus Wednesday in support of getting him off campus, even though he was an online student. As of Monday evening, there was an online petition stating that Rittenhouse should not be allowed to attend.

The planned rally and online petition were not commented on by Thorne.

Kyle Rittenhouse is about to testify in his trial at the Kenosha County Courthouse in Kenosha, Wis.

Rittenhouse could still enroll at the school.

It is not clear why Rittenhouse is no longer a student at the university, but he can still apply for courses in the future.

Any qualified individual can apply for admission.

A guilty verdict would have been the same. Even if Rittenhouse were to be imprisoned, he would still be able to enroll as an online student at ASU.

Rittenhouse said during two interviews last week that he was going to continue his studies.

He told Ashleigh Banfield in an interview that he will go back to school, even though he took a compassionate withdrawal from two classes.

He said he will re-enroll in those classes next semester so he can finish them up and pursue his career in nursing.

Rittenhouse told Tucker Carlson on Fox News that he intended to study nursing or law at Arizona State University.

He said he hopes to live a stress-free life and be free of intimidation and harassment while attending college.

Rittenhouse told Carlson that he was an innocent 17-year-old who was attacked and defended himself.

A planned rally stokes debate.

The planned student rally Wednesday has sparked debate online over whether the student groups were right or wrong to call for Rittenhouse's removal.

The Students for Socialism account said on their website that Rittenhouse got a not-guilty verdict from a flawed justice system, but that he's still guilty to the victims and their families.

Students for Socialism, Students for Justice in Palestine, Multicultural Solidarity Coalition, and MECHA de ASU are listed on the flier.

The Wednesday rally will still happen despite the fact that Rittenhouse is no longer a student.

Matt Salmon, a Republican candidate for governor, urged the school to investigate student harassment of Rittenhouse.

He said in a Monday statement that it is outrageous that left-wing student groups are allowed to engage in a dangerous harassment campaign against Kyle Rittenhouse, a fellow onlineASU student.

It is time for the far- left to respect the judicial system and for administrators at the school to stand up for the rule of law.

The student groups that rallied for Rittenhouse's expulsion were not told whether administrators would meet with them.

Do you have a story about higher education? The reporter can be reached at Alison.Steinbach@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on the social media site.

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Kyle Rittenhouse no longer is a student at Arizona State.