University at Buffalo professors disagree with university’s response to campus protests

BUFFALO, N.Y. — University at Buffalo faculty are condemning the University’s response to student protests on campus in recent days.

Part of the letter sent to university president Satish K. Tripathi read:

“As UB faculty, we are deeply troubled by the university’s decision to violently escalate the peaceful student-led demonstration on May 1. Around 50 demonstrators gathered to protest the war in Gaza and support divestment on the lawn in front of Hochstetter Hall on UB’s North Campus The rally was peaceful and students were well organized when told about erecting tents. For an encampment would result in their arrest, the students immediately reorganized the gathering to comply with the policy that students disperse after sunset – cited as 8.10 p.m. by law enforcement. The order at the protest – was ad hoc, dangerous and discriminatory. The university’s official policy prohibiting picketing and gatherings at night does not mention sunset. The sunset arrest deadline coincided with the Maghrib Muslim evening prayer, something the police appeared to ignore. until the protesters were informed. Rules for student protests were updated in real time on the day of the protest, appearing discriminatory and making it difficult for even the most informed students to follow them. “

Over 200+ signatures were added to the letter from faculty across the university’s campus, including the Department of Geography, Department of English, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Social Work, and more.

The faculty members who signed the letter are calling for all charges against the protesters to be dropped and for the University to conduct a public review of university protocols related to policing. They will also send copies of the above letter to the UB Office of Student Conduct and the Faculty Senate President.

It was reported that 15 people were arrested outside Hochstetter Hall on Wednesday May 1 after being asked to leave the protests. Of Wednesday’s arrests, eight were of people unaffiliated with UB and seven were UB students.

The University issued a statement following the May 1 protest: “The University recognizes and respects the right to protest granted under the First Amendment. However, members of the University community and visitors who wish to express their views through picketing and other forms of demonstration are permitted to do so peacefully but must not contravene the provisions of the Regulations for Maintaining of Public Order from the SUNY Board of Trustees. and must adhere to UB’s picketing and assembly policy, including the prohibition of nighttime gatherings and indoor and outdoor encampments.“.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council of Western New York also condemned the police action at UB. They released a statement that read in part: “The forced expulsion of the students by the police appears to be a blatant violation of their First Amendment rights, especially since they were exercising their rights peacefully, as evidenced by the release of videos and media reports . »

To read the full statement, click here.