Three College Presidents and a Chancellor Produce Very Different Statements on the Encampment Protests

Charles Thevenin, The Storming of the Bastille

Below you will find the statements by Presidents and a Chancellor of four colleges and universities: Chicago, Evergreen, Rutgers and Florida. Rutgers handling of the protesting campers (which prompted a delay in finals out of fear of safety) evoked a terse letter from two members of Congress (Donald Norcross and Josh Gottheimer) to the Rutgers President (Jonathan Holloway) that begins with this: “We write with questions regarding your decision to acquiesce to several concerning demands made by anti-Israel protesters on campus.”

Othewise, these are presented for your consideration without further commentary from me. However, comments on the post are most welcome.

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University of Chicago President Alivisatos

Dear Members of the University Community,

Just a few hours ago, a group of students established an encampment on the Main Quad as a form of protest. This particular tactic is now in widespread use at universities across the country. At some, encampments have been forcibly removed, with police arresting students and faculty in chaotic scenes that are disturbing. At others, encampments have persisted, despite attempts to shut them down with force. In some cases, encampments have resulted in major disruptions to learning and the activities of the university community.

Free expression is the core animating value of the University of Chicago, so it is critical that we be clear about how I and my administration think about the issue of encampments, how the actions we take in response will follow directly from our principles, and specific considerations that will influence our judgments and actions.

The general principle we will abide by is to provide the greatest leeway possible for free expression, even expression of viewpoints that some find deeply offensive. We only will intervene when what might have been an exercise of free expression blocks the learning or expression of others or that substantially disrupts the functioning or safety of the University. These are our principles. They are clear.

Two recent examples illustrate how we bring these principles into real action. First, last quarter a student group secured university permission to cover a large fraction of the Main Quad with a massive Palestinian flag consisting of thousands of tiny colored flags. The exhibit was accompanied by signage exhorting passersby to “Honor the Martyrs,” and it was staffed by students at tables during certain hours. Those students could explain to passersby why they thought it important to feature this installation, why they thought that language was appropriate, and any other views occasioned by their installation. While this protest and accompanying message were offensive to many, there was no question that it was an exercise of free expression. It stood for weeks until the end of the approved time, at which point the student group removed it, making way for others to express their views in that space as they might see fit. This example should make it clear that we approach the issue with no discrimination against the viewpoints of those participating in this encampment. We adhere to viewpoint neutrality rigorously.

As a second illustrative example, in November, a group of students and faculty undertook an occupation of Rosenwald Hall, a classroom and administration building. That was a clear disruption of the learning of others and of the normal functioning of the University. After repeated warnings, the protesters were arrested and released. They are subject now to the University’s disciplinary process, which is still pending. In short, when expression becomes disruption, we act decisively to protect the learning environment of students and the functioning of the University against genuinely disruptive protesters.

There are almost an unlimited number of ways in which students or other members of the University community can protest that violate no policies of the University at all; the spectrum of ways to express a viewpoint and seek to persuade others is vast. But establishing an encampment clearly violates policies against building structures on campus without prior approval and against overnight sleeping on campus.

I believe the protesters should also consider that an encampment, with all the etymological connections of the word to military origins, is a way of using force of a kind rather than reason to persuade others. For a short period of time, however, the impact of a modest encampment does not differ so much from a conventional rally or march. Given the importance of the expressive rights of our students, we may allow an encampment to remain for a short time despite the obvious violations of policy—but those violating university policy should expect to face disciplinary consequences.

The impact of an encampment depends on the degree to which it disrupts study, scholarship, and free movement around campus. To be clear, we will not tolerate violence or harassment directed at individuals or groups. And, disruption becomes greater the longer the encampment persists. With a 24-hour presence, day after day, we must for example divert police resources away from public safety for our campus and our community.

If necessary, we will act to preserve the essential functioning of the campus against the accumulated effects of these disruptions. I ask the students who have established this encampment to instead embrace the multitude of other tools at their disposal. Seek to persuade others of your viewpoint with methods that do not violate policies or disrupt the functioning of the University and the safety of others.
Sincerely, Paul

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Evergreen College (yes, that one) President John Carmichael.

Evergreen Community,

On Tuesday, April 23, 2024, our students began forming the Evergreen Gaza Solidarity Encampment on Red Square on the Olympia Campus. As part of an agreement with the college, students ended the encampment on Wednesday, May 1. I heard impassioned calls from students to issue a statement on the college’s position regarding the catastrophe in Gaza. As part of the agreement reached between students representing the encampment and college administrators, I agreed to make this statement.

Like many, I am horrified and grief-stricken by the violence and suffering being inflicted due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I mourn the destruction of universities and hospitals, the killing of journalists, and want to see the release of prisoners being held without due process. I wish to see an end to the violence and restoration of international law, including respect for the March 25, 2024, United Nations resolution that called for a lasting, sustainable ceasefire honored by all parties, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, expanded humanitarian assistance, and the protection of civilians. Restoration of international law also requires that the International Court of Justice fairly adjudicate charges of genocide.

I share these thoughts as a member of this academic community, and I urge each of us to learn about the history of the conflict, the current conditions in Gaza and to speak about what we learn. Given the role that United States arms play in the conflict, we can do no less. Evergreen’s Evans Library maintains resources for more learning.

Beyond our individual responsibilities, Evergreen has responsibilities as an institution. In a time of war, the search for knowledge is more important than ever. Teaching and learning require an environment that values free expression and the open exchange of ideas. The encampment at Evergreen is a powerful example of what peaceful free expression can look like. Defending space for free expression is a core responsibility of the college. Alongside this is the responsibility to provide for the safety of our entire campus community.

The agreement we reached brought an end to the encampment and marks the beginning of a new phase of work. You can find the full text of the agreement on our website here. Taking demands for divestment and alternative models of crisis response seriously requires that we grapple with the complexity inherent in these subjects, so we are now beginning a set of deliberative processes where we can educate ourselves and each other to ultimately produce specific, actionable proposals.

For this work to be successful in creating positive change, we will need more than free expression. Free expression is rarely an end in itself. In an academic institution, free expression is a necessary condition in the quest for knowledge. Beyond free expression, we need the capacity to listen to each other, embrace inconvenient complexity, and welcome other points of view. Let us be especially on guard against Islamophobia and antisemitism as we engage with each other in this moment.

I am deeply grateful to the students, faculty, and staff who helped the college navigate the past weeks with integrity and fidelity to our mission. They fill me with hope for the work ahead.

Sincerely,

John Carmichael, President 

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Rutgers Chancellor Francine Conway

Dear Rutgers–New Brunswick Community,

Last week, President Holloway and I took decisive action to ensure our campus community’s safety and support our students’ academic achievements, especially those approaching their final exams. Our goal was to facilitate a swift, peaceful, and safe resolution to the protest at Voorhees Mall.

Since reaching an agreement with the protesting students, I have received messages from many individuals expressing deeply heartfelt questions, concerns, distress, and disagreement with the terms of the agreement. Others have praised our decision to work with the students rather than further escalate a fraught environment. Please know that all your perspectives are respected and taken seriously, and I am grateful for your candid communication.

Ensuring a safe campus environment requires the involvement of our entire community. I intend to consult and collaborate with many constituent campus community groups in the coming weeks. We must continue to work together to make our community safe and free from bias and hate.

To ensure that our conversations going forward are substantive and productive, I want to take this time to clarify the terms of the agreement we reached last week. The agreement, found here, reflects the commitments made by the university.

The protesting students requested that Rutgers divest from companies that do business with Israel.

President Holloway addressed this request in Monday’s statement to the Rutgers University Board of Governors: “Some people have wrongly come to believe that Rutgers agreed to divest from companies that do business in Israel. We did not. We have a policy already in place for investment decisions and we are adhering to it and the process that flows from it. We did agree to meet with the students who made the request and nothing more.”

The protesting students asked Rutgers to terminate its partnership with Tel Aviv University, including its future presence in the New Jersey Innovation & Technology Hub in New Brunswick.

We did not agree to sever Rutgers’ relationship with Tel Aviv University or its future presence in the Hub. Agreements with global partners are matters of scholarly inquiry. Rutgers has relationships with universities worldwide, and they have helped us move our mission forward.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to establish a relationship with Birzeit University.

Rutgers has had a relationship with Birzeit University since 2022, and is committed to continuing that relationship through research collaboration and scholarly exchange.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to accept ten displaced Gazan students on scholarship.

Rutgers has, in recent years, accepted and arranged scholarships for students who were displaced by conflict in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other areas, and will work to implement support for displaced Palestinian students.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to create a cultural center for Arab and Palestinian students.

Student Affairs will develop a plan to create a new cultural center at Rutgers–New Brunswick.

The protesting students asked the university to name “Palestine” and “Palestinians” in future communications related to the war in Gaza.

Rutgers–New Brunswick has and will continue to name Palestine, Palestinians, and Gaza in public communications about the war.

The protesting students asked the university to release a statement from the Office of the President about the war in Gaza.

The university did not agree to issue such a statement.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to hire administrators with cultural competency and knowledge about Arabs, Palestinians, Muslims, anti-Palestinian action, and Islamophobia.

Rutgers–New Brunswick is working to develop training sessions on anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim racism for all administrators and staff. We commit to hiring a senior administrator with cultural competency in and with Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian communities with mutual respect and interest in engaging with faculty in Jewish Studies and those specializing in antisemitism and Israel relations.

Additionally, we are developing training sessions on antisemitism for all administrators and staff.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to hire professors specializing in Palestine and Middle East studies, institute a center for Palestine studies, and establish a path to departmentalization of Middle East Studies.

The Office of the Chancellor will convene a working group to conduct a feasibility study for creating a new department and hiring faculty. The group’s first task is to identify gaps in the current faculty and make recommendations.

The protesting students asked Rutgers to display the Palestinian flag and those of other people in areas of campus that display international flags.

The Office of the Chancellor will take stock of areas displaying international flags and evaluate how to ensure appropriate representation.

The protesting students requested amnesty for students, student groups, faculty, and staff expressing their First Amendment rights to protest regarding Palestine and the war in Gaza.

The university is unwavering in its support of free speech and does not retaliate against students or employees for exercising their right to free expression. However, all campus community members remain subject to Rutgers policies and practices, including the University Code of Student Conduct, the Policy Prohibiting Discrimination and Harassment, and the Policy on Disruptions. Violations of those or other University policies found to have occurred before, during, or after the protest will result in a referral for appropriate disciplinary action. Restorative practices may be engaged to help bring students together and repair harm to the community. The commitment to end the encampment through this agreement will be considered a favorable mitigating factor.

University leadership will honor this agreement, contingent upon adherence to Rutgers policies and no further disruptions. I would also like to note that the students peacefully disbanded the protest in good faith, and I believe the agreed-upon steps will help us become a more inclusive community.

I would like to express my gratitude to the members of the Chancellor’s Advisory Council on Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian Life, and the Advisory Council on Jewish Life who expressed shared values and a commitment to collaboration across differences, spirited exchange, curiosity, and collaboration. I am committed to putting structures in place for both councils to serve as collaborative partners to ensure that this agreement promotes bridge-building for our entire campus community.

Our Rutgers community includes diverse opinions and perspectives, with passionate and sincere advocates from many communities. But, as I have stated before, hate and bigotry have no place at Rutgers. Together, we can and must protect freedom of speech while safeguarding the rights of all students, faculty, and staff to live, learn, and work in a secure and welcoming environment.

Sincerely,

Francine Conway, Ph.D.

Chancellor and Distinguished Professor

Rutgers University–New Brunswick

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University of Florida President Dr. Ben Sasse:

I have four simple messages.

First, to the Floridians who pay our bills: The University of Florida will always uphold speech and assembly rights, and we will also always follow the law. Too much of higher education has been captured by a lot of nonsense over the course of the last weeks, and that won't happen at the University of Florida.

To the law enforcement officers who have kept things peaceful: Thank you. Your professionalism has been amazing. Over the course of the last two weeks in particular, you have been long suffering, giving protestors the right to exercise their free speech rights, but also the opportunity to come into compliance with our time, place & manner restrictions. Our goal has not been to arrest. It has been to help people get into compliance with the law. And what you have done in the face of being spit on, being shouted at with profanities, has been amazing. The professionalism of our law enforcement is a model for lots and lots of people across the country.

To the protestors: You have heard us say this again and again. You have a constitutional right to protest, and we will protect that. But anyone who crosses the line with prohibited actions will face the consequences. This is a big university where not everyone is going to agree. We have 86,000 souls on this campus, and we will treat each other with respect. Unlike many institutions across the country, I'm incredibly proud that over the course of our 21 commencements over the last six days, we were able to celebrate our students and celebrate their families, which is the purpose of the commencement time. Too often in our time and place, we give the most voice to the loudest and angriest people. The University of Florida is not filled with angry people, and it's been wonderful to see a lot of moms have tears streaming down their cheeks as we were able to hold commencements over the course of the last week. And that's because of the fortitude and professionalism in particular of our law enforcement.

And finally, to our Jewish students: UF is proud to be home to the most Jewish students anywhere in the country. This is the most Jewish university in the country, and it is great to be a Jewish gator. I want all of our students to feel safe. But more than the subjective feeling, I want our students to BE safe. And that is true today, and we're glad to have you, and we're excited to celebrate a big future together.