University of Chicago faculty voice support for Pro-Palestine student encampments

CHICAGO - Discussions ended Sunday between student demonstrators and University of Chicago administrators, but a pro-Palestinian encampment has remained on campus for its eighth day.  

In a statement issued Sunday, university officials said talks were suspended because "the requests of the protesters were inconsistent with the University’s principles."

Students, on Monday, said they have no plans to leave the quad.  

"We’re going to remain here until our demands are met," said Mike Miccioli, graduate student, University of Chicago.

Meanwhile, Faculty for Justice in Palestine – a collective of professors and staff members who are standing in solidarity with protesters – asked the university to resume discussions with student organizers on Monday.

"We support the protesters’ central demands that the university divest its endowment, and that it suspends its formal cooperation with Israeli institutions," said Anton Ford, associate professor, University of Chicago.

They also urged administrators to refrain from using police to intervene in demonstrations or to dismantle the encampment.

"The use of police force in these circumstances does not serve to protect but rather to intimidate and silence," said Allyson Nadia Field, associate professor, University of Chicago.

The faculty group said they are even willing to be arrested to protect student demonstrators, should it come to that.

"I think we are very concerned that the university will take punitive measures against our students as they did after the sit-in at Rosenwald Hall," said Eman Abdelhadi, assistant professor of Comparative Human Development. "No matter, if the university brings police against our students, we will be there."

"We are prepared to defend the encampment," echoed Miccioli.

Faculty members said students are learning through the experience, but they’re concerned students will be disciplined for participating.

On Friday, University of Chicago President Paul Alivisatos shared a statement saying, "the encampment cannot continue" because it has disrupted the campus and "violations of policies have only increased."

"Our students have issued a torrent of reports of disrupted classroom learning," said Alivisatos. "What started as a modest encampment has grown each day. Fewer police are providing safety patrols in the neighborhoods because they are obliged to be present for the growing 24-hour unauthorized protest. Left to itself, there is no end in sight, and the disruptions will continue to mount. The encampment protesters have flouted our policies rather than working within them."

Tensions rose over the weekend between pro-Palestinian supporters and counter-protesters, who have now displayed Israeli flags on the quad. Some physical and verbal confrontations unfolded, but things remained peaceful Monday.

Local Rabbi David Minkus visited the encampment for the first time Monday to see it for himself.

He says he also wanted to be there to show support for Jewish students and staff members who feel isolated because of it.

"They have found it to be intrusive," said Minkus of Congregation Rodfei Zedek. "Maybe not in its totality you find offensive, but certainly elements of it cross over from being anti-Zionist to being antisemitic."

He is hopeful for peace – overseas and here at home.

"I would hope that parts of an encampment that are concerned with humanity would be calling for peace and a ceasefire to end a war rather than to end a country," said Minkus.

Meanwhile, a student group has started a Change.org petition calling for the removal of the encampment. As of Monday night, it had received more than 2,000 signatures.