GWU threatens to suspend students for trespassing in pro-Palestinian camp

WASHINGTON – George Washington University officials said in a new statement this week that temporary suspensions are possible for GWU students who “continue to trespass and engage in protest activities.”

The university’s latest statement comes as protesters near a nearly two-week encampment in the university courtyard over the war in Gaza.

“The GWU University Courtyard is closed to organized activities. Any GWU student who continues to trespass on campus and engage in protest activities may face academic and administrative consequences, including temporary suspension and administrative expulsion from campus,” the GWU statement said.

The university said it cannot comment on individual or ongoing student conduct cases due to federal regulations. This also includes confirmation as to whether there is a case at all. According to the university, the group of protesters from across the DMV includes professional organizers, activists and other university students.

“(Group) has violated the trust of the community and its behavior goes far beyond the limits of free expression and the right to protest. “The university intends to use all available options to hold those involved accountable for their actions,” the GWU statement said.

A student organizer, who asked FOX 5 to refer to him only by his first name, “Rafi,” dismissed university President Ellen Granberg’s claims that “what is currently happening at GWU is not a peaceful protest” caused by the First Constitutional amendment or the university’s guidelines are protected.

“We all showed up and offered what we could to each other to ensure our collective needs were met. This was nothing more than a space that welcomes all members of our community, and portraying it any other way is patently false, and it is.” “It’s a smear campaign,” Rafi said.

Granberg’s letter said the protest was “no longer a GWU student demonstration” and “was co-opted by individuals who are largely unconnected with our community and do not have our community’s best interests at heart.” “It is becoming increasingly unsafe and is a violation of the university and city regulations that allow so many unidentified and unvetted people from outside the GWU community to live on university campuses.”

Rafi and another student organizer who identified herself as “Miriam” are both students at Georgetown University.

At a press conference on Tuesday, they could not confirm how many student organizers are visiting GWU or exactly how many student organizers are behind the camp.

Another organizer, whose first name is Kayla, is a sophomore at a DMV college, but did not disclose which school. Kayla told FOX 5 the demands remain unchanged.

Their demands include protecting pro-Palestinian speech on campus, disclosing university endowments and investments, and divesting all funds related to Israel and academic partnerships.

“This is the first time we have seen this level of support, this level of community, this level of attention to Gaza from students across the region. When we come together, we can better negotiate to have our demands met,” Kayla said. “There is power in numbers. We as students in the camp have a lot of power right now, they are our guide in all of this, and any oppression we face is nothing compared to what the people of Gaza are experiencing day after day at the hands of the Israeli regime. “

GWU’s commencement is scheduled for May 19 on the National Mall. At this time, the university has not announced any plans to change its start dates. Columbia University in New York announced this week that university-wide commencement was canceled due to ongoing protests.

Another student organizer said there are no plans to leave, even after graduation.

“As this camp is made up of students, community members and faculty graduates, we plan to remain here until all five of our demands are met, including after graduation. “So until President Granberg is ready to meet with students, we will be in this camp,” she said.

To read the university president’s message, click here.