Read all of our coverage of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and protesters’ demands here.
Over 10 days since the start of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on College Green, pro-Palestinian protesters have continued their demonstration and shown no evidence they will comply with Interim Penn President Larry Jameson’s April 26 order to disband.
After two rounds of negotiations with the interim president and the provost, a faculty member directly familiar with the matter told The Daily Pennsylvanian that there have been ongoing conversations between administrators and faculty who are “requesting good faith negotiations from both sides to arrive at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
A University spokesperson declined to comment on the current status of negotiations. A May 3 statement from a University spokesperson said the University “communicated that the encampment must disband and offered accommodation to continue their protest in ways that do not conflict with safety and policy.”
During Sunday’s “Rally for Palestine,” organizers shared that Jameson said that he would enter negotiations only after half the tents at the encampment come down. Encampment organizers will not comply with the request, they said.
They will not take down tents because the encampment serves as leverage for student organizers during negotiations, a source familiar with the matter told the DP — also alleging that the administration has stalled the negotiating process.
The faculty member shared that Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia) — who represents Penn and has been present at multiple days of the encampment — is willing to assist with negotiations, should student organizers ask.
Krajewski confirmed this willingness to help in a statement to the DP.
“I've expressed to both the administration and the encampment that I am willing to assist in whatever capacity to achieve a resolution that satisfies the wishes and demands of the encampment and protects students from disciplinary action,” Krajewski wrote. “I respect the organizing leadership of the encampment and defer to them in regards to the best course of action.”
In a May 1 statement on Instagram, Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine addressed their second meeting with administration.
"We, as the Philadelphia-wide Gaza Solidarity Encampment, reaffirm that we will not enter negotiations until the administration agrees to the following stipulations," they wrote.
These stipulations include the withdrawal of the disciplinary proceedings opened on April 30 by the Center for Community Standards and Accountability, no police presence in the encampment, and no threats of eviction.
Organizers are also asking that administrators "address provocation and instigation against the encampment," "clearly explain potential violations of open expression policies before requesting IDs," and "re-establish the autonomy and independence of the Committee on Open Expression from administration."
According to published meeting minutes from a special meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee on April 30, the group asked questions of Provost John Jackson Jr. and Vice Provost for Faculty Laura Perna and engaged in discussions, though “no action was adopted.”
“While SEC members hold differing views about the encampment, SEC members present concurred that the main objective for University administration should be to de-escalate tensions and to find a negotiated resolution to this conflict without rushing to conclusions,” the minutes read.
During a visit to the encampment on May 1, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier encouraged Jameson and Penn administrators to negotiate with the students in good faith and said that the best way to “resolve the encampment” was through direct communication with the people protesting.
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