CHICAGO — For five days, the cries of student protesters and supporters echoed from Northwestern University's Deering Meadow as they took part in demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war being waged on college campuses across the country.
But hours after student organizers and the school announced an agreement late Monday to curtail protests in exchange for the re-establishment of an advisory committee on university investments and other commitments, The meadow was silent.
By Tuesday, only two empty tents remained, surrounded by abandoned folding chairs, cases of bottled water and other supplies.
The agreement at Northwestern University is an example of successful negotiations between anti-war demonstrators and the administration, quickly quelling protests in Evanston and avoiding the lengthy standoffs that have erupted on other campuses. provided. Brown University announced a similar agreement on Tuesday, but administrators at Johns Hopkins University focused their discussions on limiting student protests to daytime hours.
Still, the deal sparked opposition from both sides.
Some protesters of the war in Gaza have criticized the Northwest Accord for not complying with student organizers' original demands. Some Israel supporters said the agreement represented a “despicable” surrender to the protesters.
The agreement allows protests to continue until June 1, but prohibits the use of all tents except one for aid supplies. The agreement also prohibits people not affiliated with Northwestern University from attending and requires permission from the school to use loudspeakers or similar equipment, according to a copy released by the school and student organizers.
University authorities across the country have adopted a variety of strategies in response to the protests. Police arrested dozens of people in some places. Other campus leaders are trying to negotiate a strategy for the protests while allowing them to continue.
Northwestern University said the conditions include penalties, including suspension, for students who do not comply.
A statement from President Michael Schill and Provost Kathleen Haggerty said, “This agreement charts a sustainable and de-escalated path forward, while providing a space for free expression consistent with university rules and policies. “This will enhance the safety of all members of the North West community.” Susan Davis, vice president for student affairs;
The American Jewish Committee and the Midwest Anti-Defamation League argued that the agreement was a “cave to the demands of the mob” and did little to make Jewish students feel safe on campus. criticized.
Pro-Palestinian tent encampments began to spread across the country after the April 18 crackdown at Columbia University, where police arrested more than 100 protesters. On Tuesday night, Columbia University recalled police again to remove protesters who had occupied campus buildings.
Across the country, protest organizers at American universities say they are building a peaceful movement to defend Palestinian rights and protest the war. One of several groups planning anti-war protests at Northwestern was Jewish Voice for Peace.
In an Instagram post about the deal, protest organizers said the re-establishment of the advisory committee was a step back from the original plan to force the school to divest from all companies profiting from the war. This is the first step towards achieving the above-mentioned demands.
University representatives did not respond to messages seeking more information about the advisory board's role or the history of similar institutions at Northwestern. The agreement states that the committee will include students, faculty and staff.
Protest organizers also noted Northwestern University's efforts to build a Muslim Student Activities House and raise scholarship money to go to Palestinian undergraduate students.
But organizers seemed to have expected disappointment. They believe this agreement is just the beginning and said they will continue to put pressure on administrators.
A post on the NU Divestment Coalition's Instagram account said: “We have seen incredible momentum grow in support of our movement over the past few days, and we have no intention of letting it go to waste.” was there. “We believe now is a great time to take stock, recharge, plan and build power. But we have a lot of work ahead of us and we cannot stop now. yeah.”
Eden Meles, a graduate student and one of the Northwestern protest organizers, said Tuesday that re-establishing the advisory committee is “a big deal,” but she understands the criticism of the agreement.
“We know that many students, residents and community members are disappointed with this agreement,” Meles said. “But what I want to say is that there are things in this agreement that I think many Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students have been fighting for for a long time. It doesn't suggest that it's coming to an end or that we're stopping.”
She said organizers at each campus must make their own decisions when negotiating with administrators, rather than following an exact model created by another school.
Brown University on Tuesday became the second school to announce a deal aimed at ending student protests.
Administrators and student organizers of a protest on the Providence, Rhode Island, campus said President Christina Paxson has promised an October vote on the students' divestment proposal by the school's board of trustees. Protest organizers removed their tents on Tuesday.
In Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University leaders announced Tuesday that they had reached an agreement with student protesters who began setting up camp Monday night. After several hours of discussion, the students agreed to clear their encampment and resume their protests only during the day.
“Our conversations were candid and constructive,” university President Ron Daniels and Chancellor Ray Jayewardene wrote in a message to the school community. “We are extremely relieved by this peaceful and fruitful resolution.”
But protesters from a group called the Hopkins Justice Collective issued a statement saying the demonstrations continued through the night and would not end “until their demands are met.”
“We will not tolerate the closure of Johns Hopkins University camp,” they wrote in a social media post. “We're still here.”
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Associated Press video journalist Melissa Perez Winder and Baltimore reporter Lee Skene contributed.
