Princeton U Asks Protestors To Clear Encampment Ahead Of Upcoming Events

PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, NJ – Princeton University has asked all demonstrators to clear the encampment ahead of upcoming year-end events.

In a letter to students on Monday evening, University President Christopher Eisgruber said student protestors from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment must clear Cannon Green.

No deadline was mentioned in the communication.

“We are now letting the protestors know that they need to clear Cannon Green and respect the University’s need for it and other common spaces, so that the University may prepare for and produce end-of-year events,” Eisgruber said.

“The sit-in makes it impossible to ready the green for Class Day and other events and has required large amounts of time from University staff members who have served selflessly, seven days a week, and are now needed for other purposes.”

The Gaza Solidarity Encampment began on April 25, at McCosh Courtyard, before moving to the Cannon Green following the occupation of Clio Hall.

“Under these circumstances, to continue the sit-in would involve a significant and impermissible disruption of University activities. The protestors are of course free to express their views in many other permissible, non-disruptive ways,” Eisgruber said.

His letter also addressed the steps taken by the university to address the protestors’ demands.

Student protestors want divestment and an academic and cultural boycott of Israel. They also want the University to drop all criminal and disciplinary action against participants of the sit-in and to reverse all campus bans and evictions of arrested students.

A number of students are now on hunger strike and last week they said the meeting with the administration was unproductive.

Eisgruber said the Council of the Princeton University Community Resources Committee will meet on May 14 to make an initial assessment of requests for divestment.

“We could not accommodate, for example, requests for severing ties from the United States military, academic boycotts of Israel, ceasefire statements, or complete amnesty for arrested protestors without breaching principles fundamental to the University’s governance and mission,” Eisgruber said.

The University president also addressed the issue of students who were arrested and barred from campus.

Eisgruber said the University is exploring offering arrested students the option to participate in a “restorative justice” process.

“Pursuant to that option, the University would work to minimize the impact of the arrest on the participating students. The restorative justice option would maintain student accountability: it would require students to accept responsibility for violating University policy, promise to avoid future violations, and reconcile with people significantly affected by their actions,” Eisgruber said.

He noted that the University will rapidly conclude the disciplinary process, making it possible for the students to join Commencement and receive their degrees.

Patch has reached out to protestors and will update the story when we hear back.

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