University of Oregon pro-Palestinian encampment relocates in effort to provoke administrators

Student protesters at the University of Oregon moved their pro-Palestinian encampment on Friday to the front of Johnson Hall in what organizers described as an act of escalation.

Representatives with the UO Palestine Coalition, a coalition of student groups calling for an end to the war in Gaza, said they were "applying pressure" to university administrators. The group has repeatedly made demands of the university's administration, calling for divestment from Jasper Ridge Partners, implementation of a boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign on campus, and condemnation of "the genocide against Palestinians."

Following the demonstration of chaining five students to the pillars of Johnson Hall, which protesters renamed "Alareer Hall" after Palestinian writer, professor and activist Refaat Alareer and his family, the group began moving its encampment from the Knight Library Lawn to in front of the hall.

UO student and encampment spokesperson Salem Younes said the decision to move was in part to support the students who remained chained to the administrative building. Johnson Hall is also closer to the center of campus, where there is heavier foot traffic.

"(It's) to show that we're not planning on going anywhere anytime soon," Younes said.

The encampment was lively on Friday, with a couple of dozen protesters sitting along the steps of Johnson Hall. Some drew and wrote in chalk on the sidewalk. "Alareer Hall" had been completely transformed, with pro-Palestinian signs sticking out of bushes and tarps hanging from canopies set up.

Meanwhile, the former encampment area had a number of tents remaining. Students were still breaking down tents to move them to the new location. Left behind were square patches of yellowed grass where the tents had been for 18 days since the UO Gaza Solidarity Encampment was first set up.

Younes said the morale at the new camp location has been high, despite sprinklers going off Friday morning.

"It's a beautiful day to be at Alareer Hall," Younes said.

University of Oregon Police staying back from student encampment

According to student protesters, there were two UO Police Department officers posted inside Johnson Hall Thursday. On Friday morning, there were no officers visible near the encampment.

When asked about UOPD's potential intervention, UO stated that it is considering multiple options as the encampment "poses an escalating risk to the safety and security of the community and those participating." UO urged protesters at the encampment to disperse.

"Protesters, through their escalations, have targeted individuals who work at Johnson Hall, associated employees, and the building itself. These targeted physical threats required securing the building and increasing safety monitoring by Safety & Risk Services, community safety officers, public safety officers, and the university fire marshal," UO stated via email. "Recent physical threats to safety and vandalism of property have resulted in displacing employees and interruption of operations, both of which drain critical resources from the university's daily business."

UO also provided a list of policies that the student protesters and the encampment are violating:

• Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other institutional activities, including the University’s public service functions or other authorized activities on University-owned or controlled property.

• Disruptive behavior: Engaging in behavior that could reasonably be foreseen to cause, or that causes, the disruption of, obstruction of, or interference with: the process of instruction, research, service, administration, administering the Student Conduct Code, or any other University Sponsored Activities, an environment conducive to learning, or freedom of movement on University Premises, either pedestrian or vehicular.

• Unauthorized access or use: Unauthorized access to, entry to, or use of physical or virtual space, including misuse of access privileges. Unauthorized use of University property or services, or the property of others. This includes conduct that violates the Access Control Policy and the Facilities Scheduling Policy.

While rumors have swirled about potential police intervention, Eugene Police say the encampment falls under UOPD's jurisdiction. During a training session Tuesday at the Civilian Review Board meeting, EPD Deputy Chief Shawn Adams said EPD would not intervene while the encampment is peaceful.

"We have been very clear with them that that is not our responsibility and unless ... there’s a significant threat or ongoing violence, we’re not going onto campus and we’re certainly not going onto campus to clear peaceful protesters in tents," Adams said. "We have no desire to go on campus and take any action. It’s not the City of Eugene, it’s not our responsibility."

Adams said there's an ongoing negotiation between UO's legal counsel and EPD's legal counsel as to where they will need their assistance at the encampment.

Breaking news and public safety reporter Haleigh Kochanski contributed to this article.

Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon pro-Palestinian encampment relocates