Student protesters at Northwestern University have agreed to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment after reaching a deal with school officials.
While demonstrations in support of Palestinians have occurred on U.S. college campuses since shortly after Israel began attacking Gaza following the surprise October 7 attack by Hamas, the protests have significantly expanded in recent weeks, as have accompanying reports of antisemitism.
Following New York City’s Columbia University and other colleges across the country, hundreds of students established a “Gaza solidarity encampment” at Deering Meadow on Northwestern’s Evanston, Illinois, campus on Thursday. By Sunday, counterprotesters waving Israeli flags had arrived.
Northwestern University President Michael Schill and other top administrators announced on Monday that they had reached an agreement that they hoped would help defuse tensions with the Northwestern University Divestment Coalition—a group representing most of the pro-Palestinian protesters.
Pro-Palestinian signs are pictured on Saturday outside an encampment at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. A group representing the bulk of the protesters on Monday agreed to largely dismantle the encampment after striking a deal…
Jacek Boczarski
“This agreement represents a sustainable and de-escalated path forward, and enhances the safety of all members of the Northwestern community while providing space for free expression that complies with University rules and policies,” the Northwestern officials said in a statement.
“This path forward requires the immediate removal of tents on Deering Meadow, cessation of non-approved use of amplified sound and a commitment that all conduct on Deering and across campus will comply with all University rules and policies,” the statement continues.
The agreement allows one aid tent to remain on campus for the demonstration, which can continue until June 1 for “compliant” protesters. Students who do not follow the “agreed-upon path forward” will face suspensions, while protesters not affiliated with the school are required to leave campus.
Funding for two new visiting Palestinian faculty members and tuition for five Palestinian undergraduate students is also included in the agreement, alongside the renovation of a building to be used by the community of students who are Muslim or from Middle Eastern and North African countries.
In response to demands from protesters for the university to divest from Israel, the agreement commits to reestablishing an advisory committee on “investment responsibility” in the fall.
“We determined this to be the best course of action to achieve tangible wins, maintain a sustainable movement, protect our community, and build toward Palestinian liberation,” the Northwestern University Divestment Coalition said in a statement shared on Instagram.
Newsweek reached out for comment to the Northwestern University Divestment Coalition’s GoFundMe page via contact form on Monday. Donations to the fundraiser were paused at the time of publication.
Reactions to the divestment coalition’s Instagram post announcing the deal hinted that some protesters may be unlikely to stick to the terms of the agreement.
Nearly all of the comments on the post appeared to be negative, with complaints that included a suggestion that the demonstration was “not working” if “the administration is okay and comfortable” with the protest.
The initial attack on Israel by Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that governs part of Gaza, left 1,200 people dead and resulted in hundreds more being taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, according to a report from the Associated Press that cites local health officials.
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