On April 29, 2024, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) police detained 20 students who had established a pro-Palestine encampment in front of the Kelvin Smith Library on campus. The university later barred more than 50 students from campus pending an investigation into their conduct during the protests.
The protesters were demanding that the administration disclose its investments and divest from companies that profit from Israeli military action. Shortly after students set up the encampment, campus police removed the tents and detained twenty protesters. All protesters were released later that day without being charged.
On April 29, university officials released a statement saying that protesters must follow university policies and ensure their actions do not interfere with university operations. The statement referred specifically to prohibitions on encampments and the use of disruptive sound. Despite the warnings, students and community members continued encampment and protest activities for the next two weeks.
On May 13, the university sent to more than 50 students an email, with the subject line “Notice of University Persona Non-Grata,” barring them from campus pending an investigation.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about arrests of and disciplinary actions against students exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. State authorities have a responsibility to refrain from restricting the nonviolent exercise of such rights. University authorities have a responsibility not to interfere with expressive activity on campus, so long as it is undertaken peacefully and responsibly. Where alleged violations of university policy do occur, authorities have an obligation to ensure due process, transparency, fairness, and proportionality when engaging in disciplinary action, and should avoid punishments that effectively restrict future expressive activity. The punishment of nonviolent student and faculty expression undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/04/29/ohio-campus-protesters-case-western
https://signalcleveland.org/pro-palestinian-encampment-continues-for-third-day-at-case-western-reserve/
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/protests/pro-palestine-protestors-case-western-reserve-end-encampment/95-786d6dca-d659-453a-9be3-7d93824e9eae
https://www.ideastream.org/education/2024-05-10/case-western-reserve-university-protesters-end-encampment-say-activism-will-continue
https://signalcleveland.org/persona-non-grata-case-western-reserve-temporarily-bans-some-students-involved-in-pro-palestinian-encampment/
https://case.edu/president/speeches-statements/updates-and-information-campus-protests
https://case.edu/president/speeches-statements/encampment-protest-ends-adjustments-upcoming-events-may-10-2024
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cwru-to-withhold-degrees-from-some-students-who-participated-in-israel-hamas-war-protest-encampment