Northwestern University posted a statement on Thursday explaining major changes to university policies after the Pro-Palestinian protests and encampment on Deering Meadow last semester. Protesters responded to ongoing policy updates with a continued push for disclosure and divestment, criticizing what they consider a crackdown on free expression by Northwestern.
The letter, signed by Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Davis, Vice President for Human Resources Lorraine Goffe and Provost Kathleen Hagerty, highlighted policies on demonstrations and displays in particular, which now restrict the time and place of protests on campus.
“The revisions prohibit overnight demonstrations and place limitations on activity that disrupts classes and other functions of the University, including prohibiting demonstrations at the Rock before 3 p.m. on weekdays and the use of amplified sound in that area before 5 p.m,” the letter said.
There are now “designated areas” for displays, an updated Student Code of Conduct, and a “new Intimidation Standard” that prohibits subjecting people to harassment that “substantially affects the ability of the person or group to learn, work or live in the University environment,” letter said. An authorized university official can now mandate a student remove their mask or show their ID if they are deemed to have violated these policies.
The message expanded on the Aug. 20 Leadership Note written by NU President Michael Schill. Schill’s letter additionally announced “mandatory trainings on antisemitism and other forms of hate” for incoming students and a set of lectures on “antisemitism, Islamophobia and racism.”
A Northwestern spokesperson referred back to Schill’s Aug. 20 letter in response to specific questions about who will be offering the trainings.
“The goal of any policy change – including those mentioned in this message – is not punitive, though there will be sanctions for violations that range from a warning for minor offenses to suspension, expulsion or termination for major infractions,” the Sept. 5 letter stated.
Faculty protesters reflect on sanctions
Pro-Palestinian protesters, including a Northwestern faculty member and members of Northwestern University Students for Justice in Palestine, spoke to the RoundTable about their experiences with the university’s police and administration.
Alithia Zamantakis, a research assistant professor in the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing, was one of four Northwestern employees charged earlier this year by the Northwestern Police Department. The Cook County State’s Attorney’s dropped all four protesters’ misdemeanor charges on July 19, citing their policy to “decline prosecution against peaceful protestors.”
“It is a faculty member’s job at a university to protect and care for and educate students,” Zamantakis said. “And I think in addition to protecting students, it’s necessary that we show students what it means to take care of one another and to support one another as we continue to come together collectively to demand an end to the genocide in Palestine.”
Steven Thrasher, assistant professor of journalism and Daniel H. Renberg Chair of social justice in reporting Steven Thrasher, another one of the four employees charged with a misdemeanor, said on Friday that Northwestern has suspended him with pay as the university conducts an investigation.
Thrasher said in an interview with Democracy Now! that Northwestern did not provide him due process.
Zamantakis echoed a similar concern to the RoundTable over a lack of transparency from upper administration, claiming that her arrest occurred when she was asked to come in for paperwork without notice of imminent arrest – a tactic she called “particularly manipulative.”
“I think, in my opinion, it’s a very cowardly move to refuse to be open and honest about the fact that you are charging your faculty and staff for simply supporting their students and supporting the end to a genocide,” Zamantakis said.
Despite what she viewed as unjust punishment for protesting, Zamantakis attended several protests at the Democratic National Convention last month and plans to continue supporting protests this semester.
“What’s most critical at this time is that we don’t allow the university or other institutions to continue to intimidate us, but that instead we continue to choose to do what is necessary,” Zamantakis said.
People’s Resolution
Pro-Palestinian students reflected on their own experiences with administration while protesting earlier this year.
Despite a moment of seeming cooperation – notably the agreement made on April 29 between negotiators on behalf of the Deering Meadow encampment and Northwestern University officials – some protesters view the agreement as a way to “pacify” their push for more substantial demands.
A, a junior and the political chair of Northwestern University Students for Justice in Palestine, who was granted anonymity by the RoundTable due to safety concerns, said the Northwestern People’s Resolution describes their real demands. The resolution’s key asks are that the university disclose and divest from “war and apartheid” and end the Israel Innovation Project.
“We understand [parts of the Deering Meadow agreement] as an attempt to pacify our clear demands for institutional accountability,” A said, pointing to the section of the agreement that pledged to renovate the house for Muslim students at Northwestern as an example.
A also criticized Northwestern’s pledge of disclosure, reading from an Aug. 4 NU SJP update to their substack titled “Disclosure Response from NU to Divestment Coalition.”
“Of the nearly 200 requested companies, there are 5 companies held by the University that are above a de minimis threshold (defined as 1/10th of 1% or 0.0001 of endowment assets),” the post states. The companies in this category were Alphabet, Amazon, Airbnb, Bookings Holdings and Exxon Mobil.
“That’s a stipulation that was not in the agreement, and so they didn’t fully disclose,” A said, referring to Northwestern only disclosing companies above their de minimis threshold.
“Northwestern will answer questions from any internal stakeholder about specific holdings, held currently or within the last quarter, to the best of its knowledge and to the extent legally possible,” the original April 29 agreement states.
A Northwestern spokesperson referred to Schill’s Aug. 20 letter in response to the RoundTable’s specific questions about whether the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility will be re-established in the fall and if Northwestern will support Palestinian faculty and students at risk, each of which was outlined in the agreement.
Sama Ben Amer, a senior and participant in last semester’s protests, said that updated policies will increase policing of protesting in the fall. Although Amer herself is “trying to mentally recover after last year,” she said she doesn’t plan on stopping protests.
“So whatever the school decides to throw at us, we will adapt in whatever capacity we think is appropriate,” Amer said.
The Thursday letter states the university’s goal is to “ensure every member of our community feels safe and supported.”
“This doublespeak and open hypocrisy does not foster an environment of dialogue and understanding, especially in the context of a real rise in anti-semitism and anti-Arab racism,” A said, referring to an incident of alleged anti-Arab racism at Feinberg School of Medicine.
“Administration is hoping that we basically back down,” A said. “They’re hoping to contain us, but they will try and fail and fail again to do that because they fear. They fear. When the student body is acting with its principles, they act with fear.”
NU announces protest policy updates as pro-Palestinian groups plan to continue demonstrations is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.