ASU Says Kyle Rittenhouse Is No Longer Enrolled But Student Organizations Still Demand Action

Arizona State University has confirmed that Kyle Rittenhouse is not currently a student but campus organizations fear he could return and they want the school to take further action. 

“Kyle Rittenhouse has not gone through the ASU admissions process,” ASU spokesperson Jay Thorne told Oxygen.com on Tuesday morning.  “Our records show that he is not currently enrolled in any classes at ASU.”

Thorne clarified “at one time, he was” enrolled. The spokesperson noted that no action has been taken by the university against the controversial figure. 

That means that Rittenhouse, 18, could technically enroll again and, according to a recent interview, he intends to.

Rittenhouse told Ashleigh Banfield on NewsNation last week that he had taken a "compassionate withdrawal" from two of his classes after getting “overwhelmed with the trial coming on." 

He said he planned to re-enroll to complete those classes next semester. At least one student organization at the university has reacted to that comment. 

“While students with debilitating medical problems or going through mental health crises must fight tooth and nail for medical leave of absence, Rittenhouse is given ‘compassionate’ withdrawal to deal with his murder trial – unacceptable!” the Arizona State University Students for Socialism tweeted on Monday evening. 

A spokesperson for the student organization confirmed to Oxygen.com on Tuesday morning that a planned protest to demand action against Rittenhouse by the school is still on for Wednesday, noting that Rittenhouse “plans on coming back and attending in person.”

Four student organizations at the school, including ASU Students for Socialism, are organizing the rally and are insisting that the institution ban him in the wake of his acquittal in the murders of two men during civil unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year, describing him as a "white supremacist killer" whose presence would bring "racist and facist ring-wing elements" to the school.

12News in Phoenix had reported earlier this month that Rittenhouse is technically a student at Arizona State University online. However, the local outlet clarified that he is a non-degree-seeking student who has not gone through the admissions process. Rittenhouse testified during his trial that he was taking online nursing classes at ASU.

Rittenhouse had faced multiple charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, stemming from the fatal shootings of two men and the wounding of another during a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin last year. During clashes, he killed Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, and Anthony Huber, 26, with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle. Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, survived and testified in the highly politicized trial. The shooting occurred during unrest in Kenosha following the 2020 police shooting of Black man Jacob Blake.

Rittenhouse and his defense never denied that he shot the individuals and much of the trial focused around the idea of self-defense. Rittenhouse testified on his own behalf, breaking down in tears as he told the court, “I didn’t do anything wrong. I defended myself.”

Earlier this month, a jury found him not guilty on all charges. In a subsequent interview, he said he supported the Black Lives Matter movement.