Vanderbilt University students are continuing to protest the school’s suppression of pro-Palestinian activism and the interim suspension of more than two dozen students who occupied Kirkland Hall.
On Tuesday morning, 27 students forcibly entered Kirkland Hall — which had been closed for renovations — to protest what they describe as the university’s suppression of pro-Palestinian activism. This includes blocking a vote on a resolution supporting a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement through the Vanderbilt Student Government. Twenty-five Vanderbilt faculty members signed a letter criticizing the university for stopping the vote.
Students are protesting the university’s suppression of pro-Palestine activism
Students remained in Kirkland Hall for nearly 24 hours before being removed by the Vanderbilt University police early Wednesday morning. Three students who were inside the building were arrested and charged with class-A misdemeanor assault. Another student was arrested and charged with vandalism. Scene reporter Eli Motyka was also arrested on Vanderbilt’s campus on Tuesday — he was later released and his charges were dismissed.
On Thursday, 11 members of the Metro Council signed a letter to Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier signaling their support of the student protesters and requesting a meeting with Diermeier and student leaders. The letter also requests that the university reconsider its blocking of the divestiture vote (even if the university doesn’t act on it) and that the university repeal student suspensions and drop criminal charges.
Our reporter’s first-hand account of Tuesday’s events on Vanderbilt’s campus
Vanderbilt released a statement on Thursday saying it “will review whether the administration’s response to the Nashville Scene reporter’s attempts to gain access to a restricted building on Tuesday aligned with our core values. Vanderbilt will also review and explore updates to our campus access and media policies to best ensure our commitment to freedom of the press going forward.”
The statement comes after Vanderbilt shared a policy that requires journalists to notify the university before coming to the campus — a policy that journalists from several local newsrooms confirm they had not seen before.
On Friday, students sent an open letter to the university via attorney Jordan Sluder. The letter outlines the university’s history of advocating for First Amendment rights and free speech, and questions the university’s response in light of that history.
“Has Vanderbilt University abandoned their dedication to free expression?” reads the letter, which can be viewed at the bottom of this post.
Meanwhile, students are still protesting.
“The students who are still outside are still basically fighting for the vote to be reinstated,” says a student protester who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. “I think it also has now expanded to support for our fellow students who have been suspended and seeing that as unjust.”
