UO considers criminal investigation after inauguration disruption and vandalism | News

Speaking to the Daily Emerald, University of Oregon spokesman Eric Howald confirmed that the university is considering a criminal investigation into pro-Palestinian protesters who disrupted UO President John Karl Scholz’s inauguration ceremony on May 30 at Matthew Knight Arena.

In addition, protesters damaged campus grounds. Howald said the university is currently reviewing photo and video footage of this and of the protesters’ actions at the ceremony. Howald confirmed that the school is using the records to bring both criminal and academic charges against protesting students.

“There is an investigation, but that just means we are looking into it. That doesn’t mean anything formal has happened yet, but there are just people from the university looking into the circumstances of the incident,” Howald said.

Howald also clarified that the protests at the investiture ceremony would be considered an “independent incident,” independent of any actions and negotiations that had taken place in the UO’s pro-Palestinian camp.

“All that the student code of conduct provides for are possible disciplinary measures and even criminal prosecution if the individual believes that these are justified,” said Howald.

When President Scholz was introduced at the ceremony, Several students stood up with red-stained hands and began shouting: “Karl Scholz, you can’t hide, you are sending bombs to commit genocide,” and other statements.

“You are all much, much, much too kind, thank you for your flexibility, let’s go ahead and start again,” Scholz said via Zoom, after a 15-minute delay in which he physically left the ceremony.

While Scholz continued his speech, the demonstrators continued chanting.

“The interruption actually came at a pretty good time, because I think Steve Holwerda (chairman of the University of Oregon Board of Trustees) was about to hand me a club, and the club is pretty heavy, and I can get pretty upset about things,” Scholz said.

Howald clarified that Scholz was not referring to the aerosol mace spray, but rather to a ceremonial mace used in many UO ceremonies.

According to an Instagram post Many students perceived the remark by Students for Justice in Palestine as a threat of physical violence against protesting students.

In a subsequent email clarifying Scholz’s statement, Howald said: “It (Scholz’s remark) was an attempt to lighten a tense moment created by protesters’ disruption and delay of this important event.”

Shortly after Scholz’s remarks, protesters left the arena and stood in front of the arena’s west entrance. They left red handprints and the message “Your hands are red, Scholz” on the windows.

According to Howald, the university has not yet taken any steps to punish the students’ behavior.