June 23, 2024
Dear Students and Colleagues,
I write today to inform you that on Friday, June 21, I revoked my temporary suspension of the restriction in our prohibiting overnight camping without prior approval. I communicated this in writing to Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) leaders that afternoon.
Continued participation in the encampment is now in violation of the Time, Place, and Manner Policy and the Student Code of Conduct. With the encampment still in place today, I have directed Police Chief Massey to take the action needed to ensure its prompt and safe closure. That action began at 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.
All individuals are directed to stay away from the area around the Peace Pole until 8:00 p.m. this evening, except for those directly involved in the encampment鈥檚 closure and cleanup efforts.
If you have been following communications with SJP leaders (also available via my communication web page), you will know that we have been engaged since mid-May over the six issues they raised in their protest. I had provided temporary suspension of the camping prohibition in our Time, Place, and Manner Policy to allow time for the University and student leaders of this protest to find common ground on the issues outlined in their initial 鈥淣egotiations Meeting Request,鈥 sent on May 13. After receiving SJP鈥檚 most recent communication on June 21, the 40th day of their encampment, I concluded, with sincere regret, that we had reached an impasse.
With failing confidence in the spirit of dialogue through which SJP leaders had initially approached me (a spirit that requires willingness from every partner in conflict resolution to concede some ground), and with recognition of the need for our University leaders to resume full attention to the pressing needs of our University, I have therefore ended the encampment. This is not in any way to say that I have ended the dialogue. As noted in my communications with SJP leaders, linked above, I have repeatedly committed to continued engagement on issues of concern with students 鈥 which is, after all, the work that I first came to 海角社区CI to do. I have remained true to my roots in Student Affairs throughout the time of this encampment, committed to the value of student engagement and resolute in support of essential student development work. Though it is ending today, I assure you that the longest standing 2024 encampment in the 海角社区 system has had every possible opportunity to reach resolution and voluntary decampment.
I thank all members of our campus community who have provided support, understanding, and patience for our students and for me. I look forward to continuing the dialogue and the work that lies ahead.
Sincerely,
Richard Yao, Ph.D.
President