Vanderbilt University’s student newspaper The Vanderbilt Hustler reported early Wednesday morning that, after nearly 24 hours occupying Kirkland Hall, 25 students were removed by the Vanderbilt University Police Department. The Hustler reports that two students previously left the building due to personal emergencies, 16 students were placed on interim suspension, and three were arrested for bodily injury and assault; another student who was protesting outside was reportedly arrested Tuesday night for destruction of property. Scene reporter Eli Motycka was also arrested while covering the protests on Tuesday. Motycka was later released and charges were dismissed.
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.
Scene staff writer Eli Motycka was reporting on student protests regarding campus speech and Israel's military invasion of Gaza
Outside Kirkland Hall, roughly two dozen additional students repeated protest chants.
Students engaged in the Kirkland Hall sit-in had been threatened with interim suspensions and removal by VUPD. The Hustler reports — and Vanderbilt students protesting outside the building tell the Scene — that those sitting in Kirkland could not eat or use the restroom as long as they remained in the building.
According to a statement from Vanderbilt’s communications department, “Student Affairs staff took a graduated approach to de-escalate the situation,” including asking the students to leave, warning them that they could be disciplined and issuing interim suspensions, which require students to leave campus.
A Vanderbilt representative also says “some students physically assaulted a Community Service Officer to gain entrance and proceeded to push staff members who offered to meet with them.” A video from the university shows the students’ entry.
Evidence shows administrators are putting Vanderbilt Divest Coalition's efforts through the bureaucratic spin cycle
“Free expression is a core value at Vanderbilt, as is civil discourse,” says a university representative. “Our policies allow for members of the Vanderbilt community to protest and demonstrate regarding issues they care deeply about. Dozens of peaceful demonstrations have occurred over the past several months. In consideration of safety and the university’s normal operations, we, as a matter of policy, define time, place and manner limitations. The safety and well-being of our community is a top priority. The university will take action when our policies are violated, the safety of our campus is jeopardized and when people intimidate or injure members of our community.”
Vanderbilt Student Government president Sam Sliman tells the Scene that the university’s response to the protest is “pretty absurd given the university's big focus on open dialogue, free speech.” He says he’s not surprised by the university’s actions, which echo other responses that Sliman has seen in his four years at Vandy.
“This is very much in line with how they like to handle things. ... This is just what we've come to expect from them at this point.”
See photos above from the Scene's Hamilton Matthew Masters.
