Notre Dame issues response to unapproved student demonstration but declines further comment

SOUTH BEND — The University of Notre Dame released a statement Thursday night in response to a student-led pro-Palestinian protest on university grounds on April 25 where students called out what they say is the university’s Catholic leadership’s complicity and hypocrisy in the over 34,000 deaths in Gaza.

The students held signs that read “end the genocide” and chanted “Notre Dame, you can't hide. You're condoning genocide."

The students say the university refuses to disclose its investment portfolio, which allegedly links the university to weapons manufacturers Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics.

The university sent The Tribune a statement at 11:45 p.m. Thursday, discussing its rules concerning student gatherings and demonstrations.

"The University of Notre Dame welcomes students’ voices on issues and causes they care about,” the statement says. “To ensure students can express themselves in a safe and constructive manner, we have rules in place that govern when, where, and how gatherings and demonstrations can happen. This evening a small group of students attempted to pitch tents on the South Quad. After being reminded by university officials that tents are not permitted, Notre Dame Police confiscated the tents. The students continued their gathering peacefully and eventually dispersed."

Students at the demonstration told The Tribune they fear suspension or expulsion for their participation in an unapproved demonstration. All demonstrations must be approved beforehand by the Vice President for Campus Safety and University Operations or a designee.

According to the university’s Standards of Conduct, the university reserves the right to investigate or resolve any report of alleged misconduct that occurs through the University Conduct Process.

The university states that the withdrawal of a student’s status at Notre Dame will depend on the facts of individual cases, but the following factors are taken into account:

● Whether the conduct occurred at an event sponsored by the university

● Whether the student involved was acting as a representative of the university

● Whether the conduct has a negative impact on the university community or interferes with the pursuit of Notre Dame’s mission

● Whether the conduct has a negative impact on the local community

The policies in their standards of conduct apply to all students, including undergraduate, graduate and professional, full or part-time, on and off campus.

The university states in its Conduct Records Reporting Policy that its standards of conduct reflects its commitment to “create a community that honors the human dignity of each member and that is characterized by a love of truth, active care and concern for the common good, and service toward others.”

If the Office of Community Standards determines that a student is in violation of its standards of conduct, the office will assign the student to one or more Conduct Process Outcomes. These outcomes include workshops, professional referrals or a loss of privileges.

Additionally, students can be subject to a disciplinary status, including probation, a deferred decision on dismissal depending on a student’s success in completing certain conditions, a dismissal with the opportunity for readmission and a permanent dismissal.

It’s uncertain if any student at Thursday’s protest is being investigated for an alleged violation of the university’s Standards of Conduct. After minutes of chanting, their tents were removed by Notre Dame Police officers, and police left the scene soon after, but Notre Dame staff lingered in the outskirts of the group’s chanting circle.

A Tribune reporter left a voicemail Friday with the university’s media relations department asking for more information regarding why students aren’t allowed to set up tents. The reporter also inquired about the repercussions of having an unauthorized protest.

The university’s media relations representative responded by email stating that the university has no further comment on the matter.

Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame responds to unapproved pro-Palestinian student led protest