Western University: On-campus protesters building ‘more permanent’ base

Article content

Western University pledged to take action as an on-campus encampment protesting Israel nears the two-month mark with students bringing in new materials to build a fortified barricade, school officials say.

Officials on Friday cited “egregious abuse” in the University Community Centre – adjacent to the pro-Palestine encampment, in place since May 8 – and other behaviour in warning that “issues are mounting” and noting the group’s latest moves are illegal and against school policies.

Article content

“We continue to grapple with concerning behaviours,” read a statement signed by two Western officials, John Doerksen and Opiyo Oloya. “This week we have seen egregious abuse of washroom space in the University Community Centre and (Thursday) evening encampment members brought substantial construction materials to campus and built a more permanent barricade.”

The school’s security department has warned against these actions, the statement noted. “This fortification creates further dangers in addition to the hazards already presented by propane tanks, heaters, and so on.”

The protest is now in its eighth week. The school stated it’s reviewing its options and looking at what other schools have done to clear out similar protests – University of Toronto officials went to court seeking an injunction to end theirs – and made it clear they don’t consider Western’s encampment a peaceful protest.

“Patience is running thin as our property and our staff are subjected to further abusive behaviour, and as we continue to hear from other members of our community and visitors that they feel unsafe and unwelcome,” the statement from Doerksen and Oloya read. 

Article content

They said they’ve been working with representatives from the group, the Western Divestment Coalition, to find a solution. “We must return Western’s campus to everyone in our community. Maintaining an inclusive campus is an imperative.”

Over a 10-day run of spring graduation ceremonies, there were few disruptions, with encampment protesters telling The Free Press they planned to be “respectful” throughout. But last week graduates from the Ivey school of business at Western were greeted by pro-Palestinian protesters when they left left Alumni Hall following their convocation ceremony.

About 200 protesters then headed to the business school’s main building on Western Road, where they chanted and drummed in the presence of Ivey graduates and their families.

Protesters have stated Western invests in military contracts that supply Israel and other companies tied to Israel, and they want those investments ended. The group has said it targeted the Ivey building because the business school has an exchange program with Israel.

The on-campus protests, akin to ones at universities across North America, is in response to Israel’s months-long military offensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza, which was prompted by an Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack against Israelis.

ndebono@postmedia.com

Article content