Wisconsin Campuses Strike Deal With Protesters

Bascom Hall on the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison, Wis., on Oct. 12, 2013. (Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

Pro-Palestine student protesters have reached an agreement with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) and UW-Madison to end their two-week-long encampments.

UWM Chancellor Mark Mone said on May 12 that students have begun dismantling tents on the lawn outside of Mitchell Hall and agreed not to disrupt the university’s commencement ceremonies.

“I’m grateful that the ongoing dialogue with our students has resulted in this peaceful resolution,” he said in a statement. “The voluntary dismantling of the encampment is the safest conclusion for everyone.”

Mr. Mone acknowledged the criticism directed toward the university for not forcing the removal of the camp earlier, but he added that UWM was seeking resolution through dialogue.

“Today, as this agreement goes into effect and the encampment begins to come down, we are thankful there were no significant safety issues and that counterprotests remained peaceful,” he stated.

Protest organizer UWM Popular University for Palestine Coalition said the encampment has been “a vital tool in pressuring UWM to cut any and all ties with the occupying, oppressive, settler-colonial regime of Israel.”

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The group said that it reached a resolution with the university after engaging in “countless email communications and lengthy meetings” with UWM administrators.

“After hard fought edits and careful consideration by the coalition, we determined that we had obtained all possible benefits from our encampment. This does not mean that we have ended our struggle,” the group said in a statement.

Divesting Still on Table

According to the agreement, the UWM Foundation will hold a meeting on May 14 with student protesters after the camps are dismantled to discuss divesting from Israel-linked companies.

“We recognize that divestment is not an overnight process; however, our coalition will now turn its attention and focus to the Foundation in pursuit of divestment,” the protest organizer stated.

Meanwhile, UW-Madison said on May 10 that campus leaders and protest organizer Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) have reached an agreement.

Protesters have agreed to remove the encampment on Library Mall and not disrupt the university’s graduation ceremonies or other campus functions, UW-Madison said in a press release. 

The campus reiterated its “strong condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate and bigotry in all its forms” while recognizing “the costs of war and displacement on so many across the globe.”

“We also understand that the encampment made others in our community, especially portions of our Jewish community, feel uncomfortable and unseen,” it stated.

In the agreement, UW-Madison said that its administrators would facilitate SJP’s representatives to “meet with decision makers” to discuss disclosure and investment principles.

In addition, the campus agreed to add to the Division of Student Affairs a staff member “whose work will focus on supporting students impacted by the war, violence, and displacement.”

The agreement also states that campus administrators would recommend leniency for students charged by the police department on campus, except for those who face felony charges.