Students at Wesleyan University voluntarily took down their pro-Palestinian protest encampment Monday morning, as a result of negotiations between the demonstrators and school administrators.
Student organizers said they were glad they were able to reach with university officials without the need for police involvement in taking down the encampment, which first went up at the end of April.
鈥淵ou know, we had been seeing police violence in reaction to student protestors鈥� at universities, said organizer Uday Narayanan, a Wesleyan senior. 鈥淭hat was something we were preparing for. So I think ultimately we are glad that we were able to come to an agreement.鈥�
The encampment comes down less than a week before the university鈥檚 commencement, scheduled for Sunday. According to the university, as part of the agreement, student organizers have pledged not to disrupt commencement events.
Among other demands, the students wanted Wesleyan to share information about its investments, and sell off any investments in companies playing a role in the war in Gaza.
鈥淲e were able to get the university to say the word 鈥榙ivest鈥� and get them basically to agree to that process,鈥� Narayanan said. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 going to kind of set the stage for what鈥檚 to come and to put this to a vote.鈥�
As part of the agreement, the university disclosed it invests 1.7% of its endowment into aerospace and defense companies, but said none of those companies manufacture weapons. Wesleyan says all of its investments in Israel are in software companies, which account for .4% of the endowment.
In an to the university community, Wesleyan President Michael S. Roth said the agreement was the result of 鈥渕eaningful engagement鈥� between his administration and the students.
鈥淚 am hopeful that soon we can redirect our collective efforts to urging our lawmakers, both here in 黑料吃瓜网 and in Washington DC, to do everything in their power to create a resolution in Israel and Gaza that will result in the return of the hostages, an end to the fighting, and a commitment to a process that will recognize the rights of all parties,鈥� Roth wrote.
Among the students鈥� demands met by the university were disciplinary immunity for participating in the encampment and a vow for the Wesleyan Board of Trustees to vote on an investment/divestment proposal in the fall.
鈥淵es, protests are demanding for all constituencies of a university,鈥� Roth wrote. 鈥淎t their best, they help turn our attention to issues that really matter.鈥�
