Cornell says it's suspending students after they refused offer to move encampment to an alternate location
From CNN'sSarah Boxer
Cornell Universityis suspending students after an encampment on campus declined to move to an alternate location, PresidentMartha E. Pollacksaid in a message Monday.
"Last Thursday, a group of individuals formed an encampment on the Arts Quad," Pollacksaid. "A student group had previously requested permission for an art installation there, consistent with our policies; however, they were dishonest in their request, stating that there would not be tents and that the art installation would be removed by 8 p.m. on Thursday."
Cornell University leaders then offered an alternative location for the encampment, accordingto Pollack.
"With an approved permit in hand, the protesters could have remained in the alternative location, per our policies, thereby avoiding disciplinary sanctions," Pollack'smessage said.
"The individuals requested and received multiple opportunities, over a five-hour span, to consider their options, but ultimately decided not to move. They were then reminded several additional times that afternoon and evening that if the tents were not taken down, they would be subject to disciplinary action for violating the university’s time, place, and manner rules. With full knowledge of the sanctions to come, they again refused to comply, and we moved forward with a first set of immediate temporary suspensions," Pollack continued.
Suspensions followed throughout the weekend as university leaders tried again to give the encampment, an "opportunity to move to the alternate location."
"Since last Thursday, we have tried to engage thoughtfully with the participants, and will try to continue to do so. But we need to soon get to a resolution that respects our policies, promotes the public health and safety of the community, and preserves the rights of all to do their work," Pollack said.
CNN's Michelle Watson contributed to this report
Columbia has pushed an anti-Palestinian narrative, lead student negotiator tells CNN
From CNN's Samantha Delouya
In a conversation with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Columbia student lead negotiator Mahmoud Khalil, discussed what he called an "anti-Palestinian narrative" at the school amid pro-Palestinian protests.
“Over the past six months, these students, they have witnessed the killing of over 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza and despite all of this, the institution, Columbia at least, has only pushed one narrative — an anti-Palestinian narrative on campus,” Khalil said. “They feel that they are alienated. They feel that the university is very biased against them," he said of the protesters.
Khalil was also asked what he would say to Jewish students who feel unsafe on campus.
“I would say that the liberation of Palestine and the Palestinians and the Jewish people are intertwined. They go hand in hand. Anti-Semitism and any form of racism has no place on campus and in this movement,” Khalil said, noting that some members of Columbia's encampment are Jewish and held Passover seders earlier this week, led by Jewish Voices for Peace.
"They are an integral part of this movement," Khalil said of the organization.
Protesters have been arrested on more than 20 campuses across at least 16 states
From CNN's Alex Leeds Matthews,Renee Rigdon,Krystina ShvedaandAmy O'Kruk
Hundreds of people have been arrested on college and university campuses from coast to coast as schools prepare for spring commencement ceremonies. TheUniversity of Southern California — where nearly 100 protesters were arrested April 24 —canceledits primary commencement event.
Protesters have been arrested on more than 20 campuses across at least 16 states. Many other schools have experienced protests without arrests.
CNN is monitoring campus protests and will continue to update this map with any new arrests.
UC Irvine calls in local law enforcement to assist campus police with protests
From CNN’s Cheri Mossburg and Cindy Von Quednow
Local law enforcement officials have arrived on the University of California Irvine campus after being called to assist campus police, officials said.
Campus officers are joined by city of Irvine police at the pro-Palestinian protest in the school’s physical sciences plaza, according to university spokesman Tom Vasich.
The Orange County Sheriff was asked to send additional personnel to assist, department Sgt. Matthew Parrish told CNN.
Vasich estimates there are about 100 protesters in the area, including some not affiliated with the university. About 10 tents have been erected in violation of university policy, he said. The sheriff’s department was called in for support only, he added.
Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan issued a statement “preemptively condemning” any police action that might violate the First Amendment rights of the protesters.
“I am asking our law enforcement to stand down. I will not tolerate any violations to our students' rights to peacefully assemble and protest,” said Khan.
About a dozen protesters remain outside the main gates of Columbia University
From CNN’s Miguel Marquez
About a dozen protesters remain outside the main gates of Columbia University on 116thStreet and Broadway in New York.
The protesters are no longer chanting but are milling around in the pens outside the gates.
At its peak, CNN witnessed at least 60 protesters gathered outside the gates, chanting and holding signs.
Columbia University student flies large Israeli flag above pro-Palestinian protesters on campus
From CNN’s Omar Jimenez at Columbia University
A Columbia University student said he flew a large Israeli flag above pro-Palestinian protests on campus Monday to show that Jewish students will not be intimidated by those marching on campus today.
“I don’t stand for discrimination and harassment against Jewish students,” said David Lederer, who is studying financial engineering, adding that Jewish students can be on campus, too.
“They chant we don’t want no Zionists here, well I’m here,” the 22-year-old told CNN.
Lederer, who flew the flag about two hours after the 2 p.m. ET deadline set by the administration to clear the encampment, previouslytold CNN in an interviewthat he and his brother were harassed and assaulted on campus by pro-Palestinian protesters.
Pro-Palestinian protesters voted to defy the campus order to vacate and stay in the encampment.
Columbia University says it's begun suspending students who refused to vacate encampment
From CNN's Eva Rothenberg
Columbia University has begun suspending student protesters who refused to vacate the on-campus encampment by the 2 p.m. ET deadline set by the administration.
These students will not be eligible to complete the semester or graduate and won't be allowed in university housing and academic buildings, the New York-based university said.
"Once disciplinary action is initiated, adjudication is handled by several different units within the universitybased on the nature of the offense," Vice President of Public Affairs BenChangsaid during a briefing Monday evening.
The two bodies overseeing this disciplinary process are the Office of University Life and the university's senate, a policy-making group that represents students and faculty.
"Decisions made by the Office of University Life can be appealed to the dean of the student's school," said Chang. "Decisions made by the senate can be appealed to a panel of deans and, ultimately, the university's president."
Chang added that the university asked student protesters to remove the encampment, in part, to make sure that the university's commencement ceremony for its 15,000 graduates can continue as planned.
The students at Columbia,the epicenter of the weeklong pro-Palestinian protests, had earlier voted to defy the order and stay.
The post was updated with more details from Monday's news briefing.
Northwestern says agreement reached with students on limiting the scope of protests
From CNN's Virginia Langmaid
Northwestern University on Monday announced an agreement with student demonstrators to limit the scope of the campus protest and end the encampment at Deering Meadow, the schoolsaid in a news release.
Through negotiations with “a group of students and faculty who represent the majority of the protesters on Deering Meadow,” both parties agreed to limit the scope of the protest, while granting some of the organizers' requests for transparency and free speech protections.
According to the agreement, protesters will be allowed at the site through the end of spring classes — on June 1 — as long as the scope is reduced to one aid tent, sound amplifiers are within university policy and participants are limited to those affiliated with the university.
“All other tents must be removed,” according to theagreement.
The University will also be reconvening its Advisory Committee on Investment and Responsibility in the fall, and in the agreement committed to additional transparency regarding specific investment holdings. Additionally, the University announced it will commit to supporting Palestinian faculty and students, including fully funding the cost of attendance for five Palestinian students and constructing a community space for Middle Eastern and North African/Muslim students.
In a series of Instagram posts, the Northwestern Divestment Coalition, which was involved in establishing the encampment, called the agreement a “first step” toward divestment, saying it was approved by elected representatives in a 17-1 vote. The coalition represents student groups including NU Students for Justice in Palestine and NU Jewish Voice for Peace.
Monday marked the fifth day of the encampment at Northwestern. Counter-protesters and police were present at the encampment sporadically, and the atmosphere remained peaceful and nonviolent over the weekend.
Most of the UT-Austin protesters arrested are not believed to be affiliated with the university, school says
From CNN’sAshley Killough
Several protesters have been arrested at UT-Austin Monday, most of whom are not believed to be affiliated with the university, school officials said in a statement.
“After protesters ignored repeated directives from both the administration and law enforcement officers to comply with Institutional Rules and remove tents assembled on the University’s South Lawn, then physically engaged with and verbally assaulted Dean of Students staff who attempted to confiscate them, UT and partner law enforcement agencies dismantled an encampment and arrested several protesters,” university officials said in a statement. “Baseball size rocks were found strategically placed within the encampment.”
Over the weekend, the university received “extensive online threats” from a group that organized Monday’s demonstrations, officials said in the statement.
The statement added that the threats were reported to local, state and federal law enforcement officials without elaborating.
“The University will continue to support the free speech and assembly rights of our community while also enforcing its Institutional Rules,” the statement read.
