Editor's note: The headline and article have been updated to reveal that Council members have gathered at Cordiner Hall for a dinner to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new residential village.
On Thursday, May 2, students gathered on the front steps of Cordiner Hall, chanting loudly and using pots and pans for a private dinner that included the Whitman College Board of Trustees, who were on campus for their spring meeting. interfered.
Holding up placards that read, “Stop the shooting now,” “No justice, no peace,” and “Get out now,” the students demanded that board members withdraw from companies with financial ties to Israel. did.
The protest was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine and the Student Action Committee, continuing an effort that began with a sit-in on campus and occupation of the Memorial building in November.
On Thursday, May 2, students gathered on the front steps of Cordiner Hall, chanting loudly and using pots and pans to disrupt a dinner attended by the Whitman College Board of Trustees.
Holding up placards that read, “Stop the shooting now,” “No justice, no peace,” and “Get out now,” the students demanded that board members withdraw from companies with financial ties to Israel. did.
Read the full article by Loryn Kykendall: https://bit.ly/3UhE7xm
Video by Loryn Kykendall/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, Whitman student protests have been pressuring the board to call an emergency meeting and vote in favor of the university severing ties with companies that support Israel.
A group of students gathered outside Performance Hall while the Board of Governors attended a dinner to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new residential village on campus. University spokeswoman Heidi Pitts said a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday was canceled due to potential protests.
Trustees were on campus for their spring meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st through Friday, May 3rd. Campus security guards watched from the sidewalk as students screamed. No other police were seen at the scene.
In January, the board called an emergency meeting and voted against the proposed sale proposed by students. Since then, the students said they are working on a new proposal.
When trustees entered the building Thursday, students called them by name and chanted chants such as “You can't hide Trustee Whitman, we charge you with genocide.” Shouted out.
During the meeting, students hung placards in the building's windows and used pots, pans, and water bottles as noise generators.
Several students in the crowd declined to comment during the protest.
Whitman University officials could not be reached for comment Thursday night.
Lorin Kuykendall reports on health care and education. She can be reached at lkykendall@wwub.com.
