Ohio State student, faculty groups call out university's response to Thursday's protest
Several student, staff and faculty organizations are calling out Ohio State University for how it handled an anti-Israel campus protest last week that resulted in nearly 40 arrests.
Thirty-six people were arrested Thursday night as Columbus became the latest site of student protests against Israel when hundreds of Ohio State students, faculty and community members rallied and set up tents outside the student union.
Among the 36 arrested, 16 are undergraduate or graduate students at Ohio State, according to a university release. The other 20 are not affiliated with the university.
One of the groups that organized Thursday's protest was Ohio State's Student for Justice in Palestine (SJP Ohio) chapter. In a letter posted to its Instagram account, the group called the police response to Thursday's actions excessive, aggressive and "deeply appalling."
The group said it pitched an encampment Thursday with five demands of Ohio State: "financial divestment, academic boycott, financial disclosure, acknowledge the genocide and end targeted policing."
"Rather than responding appropriately and reasonably through negotiation, the Ohio State University called on the Ohio State University Police and State Troopers, equipped with riot gear, to escalate a peaceful gathering," the group said. "This occurred just hours after OSU positioned snipers on the Union rooftop — aimed at students."
SJP Ohio said officers moved in to arrest protestors as a number of Muslim students congregated for evening prayer. Other students tried to form a human chain around those praying.
"Officers with riot gear pushed on all sides of the encampment structure, shoving people into those in prayer, causing people to fall on top of tents, and knowingly creating a stampede where students were trampled while attempting to seek refuge," the group said.
"The deliberate decision to assault students during prayer is deeply appalling," it added.
In a statement published Friday, Ohio State said its "priority is always the health, safety and well-being of our students, faculty and staff."
"Arrests are not an action that we take lightly, and we appreciate the support of all of our law enforcement partners to disperse the encampment for the safety of our university community," the university said. "We have always, and always will, take the action that is in the best interest of our community."
SJP Ohio called attention to reports received from those arrested about their treatment by officers during arrest and at the Franklin County Jail. Reports included hijabs ripped off and not returned once in jail, taunting, not being permitted to pray, strip searches in the presence of male officers, and no access to Kosher or Halal foods.
Ohio State's Undergraduate Student Government's president and vice president said in their own statement posted to Instagram, that Thursday's protest "was handled in an unacceptable manner, and we share the outrage and disappointment expressed by many in the Buckeye community."
Student Body President Bobby McAlpine and Student Body Vice President Justin Robinson called on Ohio State to reevaluate safety protocols to better ensure student safety during "high-tension situations." They said they are working on plans to address over the summer break to "truly advocate for the student body."
USG set up an anonymous feedback form for students to share their experiences from the protests. It plans to use the testimonies "to advocate on behalf of the student body to Ohio State’s administration and Department of Public Safety."
In addition to students expressing their discontent, some Ohio State faculty and staff also shared their concerns.
Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine at the Ohio State University (FSJP) condemned OSU's decision to authorize law enforcement.
"There were no OSU administrators present to speak with students. There was no acknowledgement from OSU leadership that, while they may disagree, the university has a responsibility to protect students’ right to peaceful protest," the group wrote.
"Instead, the entire gathering faced police forces, including CPD officers who have a track record of using lethal force and aggression against Black, Indigenous, and other community members of color."
FSJP said Ohio State "deliberately chose to create an environment of force and intimidation, even as it claims that its actions are in students’ best interests." The group said it also heard a number of accounts of "unnecessary levels of violence" as well as religious discrimination that took place after individuals were arrested.
All those arrested were released on their own recognizance without having to pay any bond and are scheduled to have their first appearances in Franklin County Municipal Court early this week.
In solidarity with Ohio State student organizers, a group of advocates in Hilliard plan to gather at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Station Park. The group is also gathering to support Hilliard City Council members, who passed a resolution earlier this month calling for peace in Gaza.
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.
@sheridan120
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Criticism continues from Thursday's protest and arrests at OSU
