Student encampment for Palestine continues into second day

This is a developing story that will be updated with new information as it occurs.

As the sun rose on Friday, May 3, students continued to camp outside Miami University’s administration building, Roudebush Hall, calling for the university to divest from companies funding with ties to Israel.

The encampment, which started at 6:30 p.m. on May 2, is put on by Miami’s chapters of Student for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Young Democratic Socialists of America.

Last night, both student organization leaders decided they would tear down the encampment at 6 a.m. Friday, but come morning, the encampment continued.

Around 8 a.m., Miami’s chapter of Hillel sent out an email to students, informing them of the encampment.

“The most important priority for Hillel at Miami is keeping Jewish students safe — first, foremost and always,” the email said. “Jewish students should be able to express their full Jewish identities and support for the Jewish state without fear in a learning environment that is free of hostility.”

Although students supporting Israel met at the university’s seal on Thursday, the group dispersed before midnight last night and had not reconvened Friday morning.

10 a.m.

Early morning rain started to fall, and the group put up a canopy to stay dry, despite taking their tents down earlier in the morning. According to the university property policy, “tents, awnings or other temporary structures must be approved by the Physical Facilities Department and all required permits must be obtained.”

Around 10 a.m., Senior Vice President of Student Life Jayne Brownell, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Scott Walter and Dean of Students BaShaun Smith met with the students and informed them that they had to take the canopy down.

The administrators also said the protestors could occupy the area until 9 p.m. Saturday, May 4 and still be in compliance with the university’s 48-hour camping outdoors policy.

“We plan to be here, and we will continue to fight,” Maysa Constandinidis, president of SJP, said.

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Constandinidis said the administrators also told them they were working to get a list of the university’s investments by Monday.

Throughout the day, Constandinidis said the group will do community activities such as crafts and playing music. They’re also planning on holding a Shabbat dinner at 6:30 p.m. outside of Roudebush.

“It’s basically a lot of community building today and just good vibes,” Constantinidis said. “It’s always what we like to do.”

Constandinidis, along with treasurer-elect for SJP, Darek Sanabria Valderrama, are the designated spokespeople for the encampment.

While the administrators had left the group by 11 a.m., there were still university police on standby monitoring.

2 p.m.

As the afternoon continued, so did the rain, and to protect themselves and their belongings, the group put the canopy back up. Around 2 p.m., the group had taken the canopy down, but Smith and Scott returned to the encampment to remind them of the university’s policy.

“We’re going to protect our people, and we’re going to take care of them,” Constandinidis said. “We put it up for two minutes … and next thing you know, they have some administrators come up to us.”

Constandinidis said the decision to put the canopy up again was not to be disrespectful, but it was a “logistical decision.” She said the group will try hard to avoid putting the canopy up again, but if the rain gets hard enough, they will do what they need to protect themselves.

Photo by Kasey Turman | The Miami Student
Despite the rain, protesters ate donated Chipotle and talked with each other.

In an email to The Miami Student on Thursday, Jessica Rivinius, the chief communications and marketing officer for Miami, wrote that safety for students was Miami’s primary concern.

“The safety of our students is Miami University’s top priority, and that priority will guide university actions in this unfolding situation,” Rivinius wrote. “As with any demonstration, university staff have been present to maintain student safety and ensure that university policy is followed. Unfortunately, participants have chosen not to follow university policy. Those present have been informed that they are currently violating policy and must come into compliance.”

With the rain, the number of protestors decreased to about 15 people, but university police were still present.

In a Facebook post from Thursday published to the Miami University Parents & Families group, Whitney Fisch, the executive director for Miami’s chapter of Hillel, wrote that the organization has been in contact with the university administration and has activities and programming planned for students during the day today.

“So far, we have not witnessed any antisemitism,” Fisch wrote last night. “... We are advising students to please be safe and stay away.”

Participants of the encampment are planning a Shabbat dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Photo by Alice Momany | The Miami Student
A sign in support of the Free Palestine Movement hangs inside Upham Hall

6 p.m.

As evening came, more protesters joined for the Shabbat dinner. Around 30 people came to enjoy a service led by Shema Cincinnati. After the service, they lit candles and shared a meal.

“[This] came directly from our Jewish members of our organization,” Sanabria Valderrama said. “One of the most major things that they have been telling us is … they feel very isolated from their own community here at Miami, so having a Shabbat dinner to provide that sense of community was absolutely necessary.”

Sanabria Valderrama said there are about five Jewish members in Miami’s SJP.

Photo by Alice Momany | The Miami Student
Protesters gather for the Shabbat service.

For the rest of the night, Sanabria Valderrama said the group was just going to hang out and continue to advocate for the university to divest from companies with funding tied to Israel.

In a statement published by the university on Friday, it said the encampment has been in compliance with university policies, after being told of their violations by administrators.

“As with any demonstration, university staff have been present to maintain student safety and enforce compliance with university policies,” the statement says. “... We continue to prioritize providing support and care for all of our students. Throughout this year, members of our student life staff have been in regular contact with students and student organizations discussing their concerns and supporting their well-being. We will continue to do so.”

10 p.m.

As the end of night two came to a close, about 15 students laid out their blankets for the night, as opposed to nearly 30 students from Thursday night. While tents populated the area on Thursday, the structures were not allowed because it was not approved by Physical Facilities, and they did not get all the required permits. The campers who were preparing to spend the night laid down on tarps with blankets and sleeping bags to cover up with.

“We haven’t had our tents up all day, and we’ve been having lots of people going in and out and everything, so I would say, overall, I don’t think it’s the biggest deterrent,” Sanabria Valderrama said.

Additionally, while supporters of Israel held a counterprotest on Thursday, the seal was quiet with nothing but music being played at the encampment. Administration and university police were still present.

Photo by Alice Momany | The Miami Student
Since the protesters did not go through the proper procedures to use tents on campus, participants of the encampment laid on tarps with blankets.

As the group heads into day three and draws closer to their 48-hour time limit, per university policy, Sanabria Valderrama said it is “undetermined” whether they will leave by 9 p.m. tomorrow night.

“We’re obviously always going to be operating at whatever is safest, so it’s honestly going to be decided collectively at the moment what’s best at that time,” Sanabria Valderrama said.

momanyaj@miamioh.edu