Western University raises new concerns as protest camp nears two-week mark
Despite a new warning from school officials that suggests their patience is growing thin, pro-Palestinian protesters at Western University say they’re not going anywhere. “We are staying indefinitely until our demands are met,” one student spokesperson at the on-campus encampment said on Saturday – the eleventh day of the protest. He asked to not be identified for fear of reprisal. The protesters are taking issue with the university’s newly stated position that activities and behaviours at the encampment are pushing the “boundaries” of safety and risk. “We disagree with the characterization that we’re pushing it or putting anyone’s safety at risk here,” said the student protester. “At the camp, we take as many steps as we can to ensure everyone’s safety during the protest.” Late Friday, Western’s vice-provost for students, John Doerksen, and its associate vice-president for human resources, Jane O’Brien, issued a brief statement citing concerns about safety and activities within the encampment that has taken over a large area outside the University Community Centre. “In recent days, we have seen further safety issues emerge, stemming from behaviours during rallies and marches, as well as risky items and activity within the encampment itself,” the statement read. The school’s administration met with student representatives from the encampment this week and “we hope to keep that dialogue going so we can find a way forward,” the statement read. On Friday, another invitation was sent to the students for more discussions next week and university officials said they encouraged students “to return to peaceful and lawful protesting,” which the school supports “in the spirit of furthering respectful dialogue and debate.” The university statement added: “But what is happening on our campus right now has pushed those boundaries and we must find a peaceful end to this unlawful situation.” In an earlier statement this week, Doerksen expressed concerns that the encampment was growing and that “the majority of participants are not our students,” adding some had become “more confrontational.” All was calm on Saturday morning at the encampment, where campus security kept an eye and a respectful distance. Campers mingled at a food table while tour groups were led around the campus. The spokesperson said “the vast majority here are students.” He pointed out that extra efforts have been made to keep the site clean and orderly and that there is a first-aid tent for anyone in medical need. The protesters want Western to divest itself from what they say is tens of millions of dollars invested into companies and military contractors with ties to Israel and complicit in the occupation of Palestine. They also want Western to terminate all partnerships with Israeli organizations. The encampment spokesperson said the university hasn’t made any advancement in the conversation and “our demands are very clear,” adding: “We don’t just want a verbal acknowledgement, we want an action plan in terms of what is going to be done to divest.” The protests, which have sprung up at universities across North America, are in response to Israel’s bombardment of Hamas-controlled territory in Gaza that has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians. Israel’s response followed the terrorist attack by Hamas militants on Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 were taken hostage. Even though most Western students have left for summer break, the campus is busy with summer classes, school tours and upcoming convocations. “We’re definitely getting visibility otherwise senior administration wouldn’t want to meet with us,” the spokesperson said. jsims@postmedia.com Related As protesters dig in, Western University flags 'more confrontational' tone Pro-Palestinian tent encampment at Western University enters second day
