When tents went up amid the Gothic architecture on the University of Chicago’s quad on April 29, administrators initially took a permissive view.
But that changed on Friday when negotiations between protesters and university leaders stalled, and the university’s president, Paul Alivisatos, wrote a letter saying demonstrators had violated policies and engaged in vandalism.
“The encampment has created systematic disruption of campus,” said Dr. Alivisatos, a chemist who became president of the university in 2021.
As part of its free speech philosophy, the university also put forward the principle of institutional neutrality.
But the statement also describes clear limits, including a right to prohibit illegal activities and speech “that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment.”
Persons:
Paul Alivisatos, ” “, ”, Alivisatos, “, counterprotesters, Brandon Johnson
Organizations:
University of Chicago, University of, Chicago, “, ”
Locations:
Chicago, Palestine