University of Washington President Ana Mari Cauce has called for the voluntary dismantling of a pro-Palestinian encampment due to the presence of antisemitic graffiti found across campus. Cauce described the recent graffiti as a deliberate escalation to pressure the University to meet the protesters’ demands, leading to her decision to remove the tents.
In a statement released by the university, Cauce emphasized that the response to students’ requests for change will not be based on an encampment, highlighting alternative ways for their voices to be heard without resorting to tents, violent language, or vandalism. The graffiti, discovered by students and faculty members on Wednesday, created a hostile environment for many, particularly the Jewish community.
University officials acknowledged engaging with the anti-Israel protesters to address their increasing demands, such as creating a new department with an “anti-Zionist” hiring requirement, allowing a student group to oversee the allocation of religion-based scholarships, and requesting amnesty for various violations of the law and student code, including the encampment. The statement noted that several of these demands contradict academic freedom and legal statutes.
Furthermore, the university affirmed its commitment to maintaining ties with Boeing, a major Seattle-based donor, stating that they will not support an academic boycott of Israel or sever connections with the company, which align with the principles of academic freedom. There was no mention of increased security measures for the upcoming commencement ceremony on June 8th.
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