Leadership at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has reached a deal with Students for Justice in Palestine, the group behind the anti-Israel encampment on campus.
In exchange for meeting the group’s demands, they will not disrupt the commencement proceedings. Sounds like extortion, doesn’t it?
From the Daily Cardinal:
Breaking: Pro-Palestine protesters and UW-Madison administration agree on deal to end encampmentPro-Palestine student protesters and University of Wisconsin-Madison administration reached an agreement to end the Library Mall encampment Thursday in exchange for facilitating discussions into disclosure and investment principles with decision makers at the UW Foundation (WFAA).Student organizers from the encampment also agreed not to disrupt commencement this Saturday and to follow UW-Madison rules, including policies that prohibit encampments on university property, in future activities.Friday marked the 12th day of the encampment, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Young Democratic Socialists of America, with tents being erected after a rally on April 29…Organizers demanded full divestment of all UW-Madison companies tied to Israel, disclosure of the UW Foundation’s investment and cuts to Israeli fellowships and study abroad programs. SJP also demanded the university publicly call for an “immediate and permanent ceasefire” in Gaza, remove cops from campus and “stop the land grabs and cease expansion, in order to house our community.”…In the deal, the university said campus administration does not have authority over how endowment funds are invested but committed to “facilitating access for SJP to relevant decision-makers” to present concerns and requests. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin will attend this meeting if SJP “so wishes.”…The university also recognized that SJP may “choose to engage in the shared governance process regarding principles of investment.” Shared governance is a form of representation for staff and students at UW-Madison through the Associated Students of Madison and the Faculty Senate.
This is from the university website:
Agreement reached to resolve Library Mall tent encampmentOn Friday, May 10, campus leaders and student representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) reached a resolution to end the encampment on Library Mall.With the agreement, SJP will clear the encampment today and has committed that it will not disrupt this weekend’s graduation ceremonies or other campus functions, nor reestablish an encampment on our campus. In addition, SJP has committed to following UW–Madison rules in its future activities. We appreciate reaching resolution with SJP and acknowledge the support they received from their faculty liaisons.This has been a difficult period for our campus, our nation and the world. We want to be clear that UW–Madison supports peaceful student protest, fully respects the First Amendment, and has done so throughout this year. We appreciate that the encampment, named by SJP the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, although in violation of Chapter 18, was motivated by understandably passionate feelings about the devastation in Gaza, and was a source of community for many participants.We also understand that the encampment made others in our community, especially portions of our Jewish community, feel uncomfortable and unseen. We reiterate our strong condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate and bigotry in all its forms, and we recognize the costs of war and displacement on so many across the globe.
Here’s a local news report:
Featured image via YouTube.
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