Live coverage of this topic has ended. To learn more, read our coverage of the agreement between the University and student protesters here.
On Wednesday, roughly 80 students set up an encampment on Brown University鈥檚 Main Green calling for divestment from companies affiliated with the Israeli government. The demonstrators also called on the University鈥檚 administration to drop criminal charges against 41 students who were arrested for trespassing during a December sit-in.
The encampment is being cleared by demonstrators following an agreement between University leaders and organizers this afternoon. The Corporation will vote on a divestment proposal this October, but the charges against the 41 students arrested in a Dec. 11 sit-in will not be dropped.
At its peak, the number of participants rose to over 100.
On Monday morning, Paxson agreed to let student demonstrators meet with a group of Corporation members to discuss a divestment proposal if the encampment is disbanded. That afternoon, six encampment organizers met with Vice President for Campus Life Eric Estes and Executive Vice President for Planning and Policy Russell Carey to negotiate the conditions of Paxson鈥檚 offer. Negotiations concluded Tuesday afternoon.
Student demonstrators received notice of pending cases of student conduct violations that are being reviewed by the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On Saturday, students received a letter stating that students affiliated with the encampment had until 5 p.m. Monday to respond to the internal review before a disciplinary review process began. That deadline was postponed for 24 hours to Tuesday.
Communications to the Brown community from University leaders 鈥 including from President Christina Paxson P鈥19 P鈥橫D鈥20 鈥 have stated that the encampment is a violation of University policy.
Paxson also said that the encampment is not an arrestable offense, but that law enforcement could be deployed if the encampment were to create 鈥渁 violent, intimidating, hostile or otherwise unsafe environment.鈥 No reports have arisen of these threats from the encampment.
鈥淚 cannot condone the encampment, which was in violation of University policies. Also, I have been concerned about the escalation in inflammatory rhetoric that we have seen recently, and the increase in tensions at campuses across the country,鈥 Paxson wrote.
鈥淚 appreciate the sincere efforts on the part of our students to take steps to prevent further escalation,鈥 she added. 鈥淯niversities were built to hold disagreement and grapple with competing views.鈥
Demonstrators are clearing the encampment following an agreement between University leaders and organizers this afternoon. The Corporation will vote on a divestment proposal this October, but the University will not request that charges against the 41 students arrested in a Dec. 11 sit-in be dropped. Read the Herald鈥檚 full coverage of the historic agreement here.
Demonstrators are chanting, 鈥渇ree, free Palestine.鈥
Approximately 150 students are gathered on the Main Green, outside the meeting.
Photo by Dana Richie | The Herald
Dean of the Faculty Leah Van Wey previously wrote to some faculty members who were identified as being at the encampment that if they continued to violate University policy she would 鈥渞eview the situation and consider imposing disciplinary action.鈥
鈥淚 acknowledge and apologize for the fact that notices were sent to a few faculty who were determined to have been at the encampment, which I understand has led some to question whether Brown is unfairly accusing faculty or engaging in surveillance,鈥 Paxson wrote in her Monday email to faculty.
They announced to demonstrators that they will draft a proposal outlining their conditions for the encampment to end. University administration will deliberate the proposal and meet again with organizers tomorrow morning to discuss a final agreement, organizers told attendees at the rally.
Additionally, encamping students are given an additional 24 hours before their conduct review processes begin. On Saturday, students received a letter stating that they had until 5 p.m. today before the disciplinary review process began.
Organizers added that they will continue encamping until a final agreement with the administration is reached.
Demonstration organizers outside of the building have communicated that students affiliated with the encampment will vote on the terms in Paxson鈥檚 letter when representatives exit the building. The group of about 400 demonstrators continues to circle University Hall.
About 400 demonstrators are rallying around University Hall.
Photo by Dana Richie | The Herald
The encampment participants are classifying Paxson鈥檚 letter as a 鈥渟uccess鈥 and a 鈥渕ajor concession鈥 in a statement to The Herald.
They also characterized Paxson鈥檚 previous refusal to bring the divestment proposal to the Corporation and recommendation that they submit a proposal via ACURM as a 鈥渄elay tactic.鈥
No further information was provided as to whether the participants would accept the letter鈥檚 stipulations. 鈥淓ncampment is actively in negotiations about how to move forward with President Paxson鈥檚 letter,鈥 the statement reads.
Earlier this morning, Paxson agreed to let student demonstrators meet with a group of Corporation members to discuss a divestment proposal if the encampment is disbanded. The students have not yet accepted Paxson鈥檚 agreement.
Read more about Paxson鈥檚 letter here.
鈥淲e have heard that some students have been made to feel very uncomfortable being asked to have class in or alongside the encampment,鈥 the email reads.
The email states that stopping by 鈥渢he encampment to talk with your students and/or check on their welfare鈥 is not a policy violation. But, Doyle noted that faculty 鈥渋nvolved in the unauthorized activity itself, such as working with the activity organizers and playing roles within the encampment鈥 is in violation of policy.
Huneidi told The Herald that she has a . She was unaware of the encampment but saw Palestinian flags and decided to sit down on the Main Green in solidarity with the encamping students.
Huneidi was first approached by two unidentified individuals aiding DPS鈥檚 ID-scanning process and was asked to provide her Brown ID. The aids allowed her to stay on the Green when Huneidi answered that she did not have one.
A few minutes later, two DPS officers approached Huneidi and asked her to leave when Huneidi failed to provide a Brown ID card. The officers stated that they could not verify her library card鈥檚 validity and the encampment is restricted to Brown students, Huneidi told The Herald.
Huneidi was eventually allowed to remain at the encampment but was notified that she had to leave later in the evening. Huneidi is still on the Green at the time of the update鈥檚 publication.
Several students involved with the encampment surrounded Huneidi and the DPS officers to record their exchange. Huneidi highlighted the students鈥 support: 鈥淚 feel like they have my back, and I don鈥檛 even know them.鈥
Huneidi claimed that students at Roger Williams have been less outspoken regarding the war between Israel and Hamas compared to Brown students. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really hard,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 look forward to honestly staying here.鈥
While scanning IDs, DPS approached a community member who identified herself as a Palestinian Rhode Island law student unaffiliated with the University. The community member refused to leave.
An unidentified individual came to counter-protest the encampment, shouting 鈥渓ong live Israel鈥 and 鈥渢here is no 鈥 genocide, there is a war on both Palestinians and Israelis.鈥 She was escorted off the Main Green by DPS officers.
Some students in the encampment began chanting 鈥渄ivest now鈥 as the individual was removed from the Main Green.
鈥淔aculty and staff who participate in an encampment that violates University policy are subject to relevant codes of conduct and disciplinary procedures,鈥 Clark added.
鈥淧articipation in this unauthorized activity can take many forms, and each case will be assessed based on the circumstances,鈥 he wrote. 鈥淚ndividuals contacted regarding possible policy violations will have the opportunity to discuss the circumstances related to their alleged participation.鈥
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to let people know that we stand with Israel, and we stand against鈥 the encampment, Schneider said.
He condemned Brown鈥檚 response to the encampment and called on the University to enforce its policies more strictly. He visited the encampment on Wednesday but was asked to leave and given a trespass warning, Schneider told The Herald.
On April 26, the RICI posted on their to condemn encampments across the country and express support for Israel. 鈥淵our actions do nothing but fuel more division, hatred and conflict on your campuses and in the Middle East,鈥 the post reads.
This communication is distinct from letters received this morning by some participants that allege specific conduct violations. Clark did state that a vast majority of students have been contacted about these 鈥渘ext steps,鈥 but does not include students who are concurrently facing additional disciplinary review from 鈥渞elated conduct code violations.鈥
He told The Herald that 鈥減resence at the unauthorized encampment is participation鈥 and could result in disciplinary review.
Read more here.
He noted that with a reservation, amplified sound is permitted from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays, but the encampment is in violation of University policy.
"Campus community members are encouraged to report noise complaints to Brown DPS, whose officers will respond, advise encampment participants of the complaints, instruct them to lower noise levels and file a report documenting the alleged violation for use in conduct proceedings," Clark added.
The AAUP is a national organization that aims to support 鈥渁cademic freedom and shared governance,鈥 according to its website. The Executive Committee of Brown鈥檚 chapter has 10 faculty members.
The committee鈥檚 members 鈥渨ish to express our strong support of the Brown University community鈥檚 general right to protest and demonstrate free from intimidation, hostility, or the threat of disciplinary action,鈥 the statement reads. 鈥淢ost urgently, we prevail upon the Administration to refrain from calling law enforcement to campus so long as demonstrators exercising their free speech rights, or their academic freedom rights, pose no threat to the safety of others on campus.鈥
鈥淎s Brown faculty, we believe that Brown can and should be an exemplary institution in these troubled times and that it is capacious enough to accommodate a variety of political viewpoints and the lawful and peaceful expression thereof,鈥 the statement reads.
Owen Dahlkamp is a Section Editor overseeing coverage for University News and Science & Research. Hailing from San Diego, CA, he is concentrating in political science and cognitive neuroscience with an interest in data analytics. In his free time, you can find him making spreadsheets at Dave鈥檚 Coffee.
Anisha Kumar is a section editor covering University Hall. She is a sophomore from Menlo Park, California concentrating in English and Political Science who loves speed-crosswording and rewatching sitcoms.
Ryan Doherty is a Section Editor covering faculty, higher education and science & research. He is a sophomore concentrating in chemistry and economics who likes to partially complete crosswords in his free time.
Tom Li is a Metro Editor covering the Health & Environment and Development & Infrastructure beats. He is from Pleasanton, California, and is concentrating in Economics and International & Public Affairs. He is an avid RIPTA passenger and enjoys taking (and criticizing) personality tests in his free time.
Avani Ghosh is a Metro Editor covering politics & justice and community & activism. She is a sophomore from Ohio studying Health & Human Biology and International & Public Affairs. She is an avid earl grey enthusiast and can be found making tea in her free time.
鈥嬧婦ana Richie is a senior staff writer for Arts and Culture and the photo chief. She enjoys using multiple forms of media to capture peoples鈥 stories and quirks. In her free time, she loves knitting, learning about local history and playing ultimate frisbee.