Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from Vice President for University Relations and Marketing Rob Odom.
Student protesters chained themselves together in front of the Kerr Administration Building on Thursday at 11:30 a.m, demanding that Oregon State University administrators cooperate with their attempts at negotiation.
Students at the protest could be heard chanting, “disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.”
The protest was organized by Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights, who have organized an encampment in the Memorial Union quad which has since moved to the Valley Library quad.
“We will not be leaving until we get a solid starting point for negotiations, we will be here all night if needed,” said a SUPER media liaison who declined to give their name for safety reasons.
In a post on SUPER’s instagram, the organization said they felt the protest, which they referred to as a “lock-in,” is necessary to express to administrators that they are still fighting for their demands.
“Just because the school year is ending doesn’t mean they can PUSH US AND OUR EXPECTATIONS ASIDE. To escalate to this level requires bravery and grit. We’re enormously grateful to our demonstrators for their courage and dedication to mobilizing admin to END THEIR PARTICIPATION IN GENOCIDE.” The post states.
In an email response to the demonstration, Rob Odom, vice president for University Relations and Marketing, said administrators “do not believe it is a meaningful invitation for productive conversation.”
“Through your conduct, including persistent and escalating violation of university policy, law and community norms – and public statements that your activity will not cease until all your demands are met – you have not indicated interest in collaborative engagement,” the response states.
The statement does not specify what policies and laws the university considers the demonstrators to be in violation of.
In the response, Odom referred to a list of actions proposed by the university in response to the OSU Palestine Solidarity Coalition, and called on demonstrators to “rejoin the university community in advancing these actions.”
“Your public statements indicate that only unilateral acceptance of your demands will suffice; decisions at the university are made through shared governance, dialogue and building consensus,” the statement alleges. “It appears you are determined to maintain a course of action focused on ‘winning’ through an escalating course of conduct.”
An email released in response to the protest by the OSU Department of Public Safety, states that anyone needing to access Kerr should go through the south entrance. Those entering will be asked to provide ID and their reason for entering.
Campus editor Wes Flow contributed to this article.
