MSU students set up encampment, join other campuses protesting war in Gaza

Updated 1:16 p.m.

EAST LANSING — Michigan State University students set up a Gaza solidarity encampment early Thursday morning, joining other college campuses in the U.S. calling for their schools to divest from Israel amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The encampment is the latest action by Hurriya, a coalition of MSU student groups trying to bring attention to the rising Palestinian death toll and asking for the school to divest from Israel and weapons manufacturers. Students from the coalition have attended every Board of Trustees meeting since October.

The university has ordinances against camping or occupying spaces on campus without permission from the board, meaning the students could be arrested, which has happened to students in similar encampments across the country.

Camille DuVernois, an MSU junior, said MSU police had been at the encampment and told the students that they would need to take down their tents, and told them they would be arrested and ticketed if they didn't. At around noon, the officers left.

"I think because there was more of us, they didn't want to do anything," she said. "We were calling all our friends to tell them to show up."

Thursday afternoon, the university released a statement.

"Michigan State University is dedicated to freedom of speech and encourages its students to be informed and honor the exchange of free ideas and individual expression. The university was made aware this morning that a group of individuals set up tents for a protest in People’s Park on campus. Being that camping is in violation of MSU Ordinance 13, MSU police officers were called to respond to the area. Officers peacefully spoke with group leaders and informed them of the violation. No arrests have been made.

"The university is continuing to engage in discussions with group leaders and we will provide additional information as it is warranted."

DuVernois said that several of the school's trustees, including Rema Vassar and Brianna Scott, had been in direct contact with some of the organizers.

The board has the power to approve a permit for the encampment, according to the university's bylaws.

MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz told the State Journal Wednesday that he respected students' right to protest but he was concerned about safety and said he would follow the ordinances in deciding whether to take any action.

"I don't want to be known as a place that has shut down free speech, or one's ability to express themselves," he said. "College campuses have been the epicenter for activism and protests for decades."

Guskiewicz said he'd watch any protests for potential "hate speech."

"I think the line is if a member of this campus community is feeling threatened, their physical safety is being threatened, their emotional safety and wellbeing are being threatened..." Guskiewicz said. "That line can be crossed at the point where this has turned into hate speech and becoming not constructive in any way."

According to Board Ordinance 13:00 - Camping, "no person shall camp within the confines of land governed by the Board. 'Camping' means the erecting of a tent or shelter of natural or synthetic material, preparing a sleeping bag or other bedding material for use, parking of a motor vehicle, motor home, or trailer for the apparent purpose of overnight occupancy. It shall be a violation of this ordinance to camp without a permit."

Other ordinances that could stop the encampment from continuing are listed in Disorderly Assemblages or Conduct ordinances, and prohibit "[assembling] together anywhere on the campus for the purpose of creating any excessive noise or any disturbance, riot, or raid, or assemble in a manner which obstructs the free movement of persons about the campus or the free and normal use of University buildings and facilities or which prevents or obstructs the normal operations of the University."

The ordinances do not go into detail on what exactly is considered a disturbance.

At Columbia University in New York City Friday, police arrested over 100 protestors for their solidarity encampment. University President Minouche Shafik told USA Today that the demonstrators were warned that they weren't allowed to occupy the space.

Columbia University Apartheid Divest, a coalition of student organizations, told USA Today that the police were "violent," when the mass arrest occurred.

The demonstrators are protesting the civilian death toll in Gaza, where more than 34,000 people have died since Israel's invasion that followed a Hamas-led attack that killed almost 1,200 people in Israel. Students oppose U.S. military aid to Israel and want their schools to stop investing endowment money in Israeli companies.

USA Today reporter John Bacon contributed.

This is an updating story, check back for updates.

Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@lsj.com. Follow her on X, @sarahmatwood

This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU students set up encampment, join other campuses protesting war in Gaza