CLEVELAND — As Case Western Reserve University prepares to hold its commencement activities this week, the school has announced that some of the students who were involved in the recent pro-Palestine encampment protest will not be welcome on campus.
In addition, degrees will be temporarily withheld from some students who are set to graduate.
A CWRU spokesperson told 3News in an email on Tuesday that the university has "initiated its student conduct process" for a "limited number of students who may have been involved in the unsanctioned encampment on private property and other conduct violations."
That student conduct process includes "temporary withholding of degrees and bans from university property."
The announcement by Case comes just days after pro-Palestine protesters ended their 11-day encampment. On Friday, CWRU President Eric Kaler announced that "any student, faculty or staff member who is found to have violated the university’s policies will be held accountable through the relevant conduct processes, which we have initiated."
Kaler specifically mentioned that "legal action" may be pursued, including for those unaffiliated with the university who trespassed on university property. In Tuesday's statement, CWRU said the university had "issued notices to third parties who were involved with the encampment, prohibiting them from campus."
The ordeal began on April 29, when CWRU students, faculty, and others headed to the oval and vowed to protest until the university "meets their demands to divest from the state of Israel." Twenty of the initial protestors were detained and released, but no arrests were made.
The group later published a list of demands, and Case eventually allowed demonstrators to remain in the space overnight as long as they presented valid student or employee identification. However, three days later, administrators declared the protest was "no longer approved," claiming organizers had violated guidelines by "permitting third parties not currently affiliated with CWRU to remain on campus outside of predetermined hours."
Despite saying the protestors were now "trespassing," the school made no effort to forcibly remove them from the premises, and declared that would not be done unless things became violent. That never happened, although tensions rose on May 8 when organizers published a video showing third-party contracted workers spraying students with paint in front of the "spirit wall" near the Thwing Center.
Kaler said prior to their departure, protesters had threatened to disrupt the university's commencement activities, slated to begin Wednesday. Amid those concerns, he announced a new policy related to "freedom of expression."
"All activities on university property related to freedom of expression, regardless of perspective or subject, between now and May 20 will require reservations that are approved in writing by the interim vice president for student affairs (via studentaffairs@case.edu) to ensure safety and adherence to policy," Kaler stated. "Participation in an unapproved activity on Case Western Reserve property will result in referral to the relevant conduct process, even for those scheduled to graduate."
Previous Reporting:
- Case Western Reserve University president threatens legal action against protesters after pro-Palestine encampment ends
- Pro-Palestine protestors at Case Western Reserve end encampment
- Pro-Palestine protesters at Case Western Reserve University spray-painted by contractors; Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb reacts