University of Vermont's pro-Palestine protesters secure small wins after five days

A small group of pro-Palestinian University of Vermont students pitched tents on the campus green last Sunday afternoon, joining thousands of other college activists across the country who have erected similar encampments to protest the Israel-Hamas war.

Almost a week later, UVM protesters are still camped outside Andrew Harris Commons, where their numbers have grown from an initial dozen or so tents to over 75 as of Wednesday afternoon. Despite being in violation of school policy, students say the encampment will remain until the university agrees to a list of demands, which includes severing financial ties with Israel.

“You have been writing letters, signing petitions, marching, rallying, doing everything that you can,” UVM faculty member Helen Scott told students on Monday during a Pro-Palestine rally held next to the encampment. “Now you’re taking it to the next level because nobody seems to be listening.”

In a statement to the Free Press, Adam White, executive director of university communications, said the university "remains in close communication with participants in the demonstration currently taking place on campus" and that "all their concerns have been heard by university leaders, who understand their importance to the students."

So far, protests have remained mostly peaceful, and students have yet to face consequences for illegally camping on school property – a stark contrast to the arrests, suspensions and violent clashes that have occurred on many college campuses, such as Columbia University in New York and University of Texas in Austin.

However, UVM has offered students no guarantee they will escape penalties forever. Protesters still risk arrest and suspension, which could jeopardize their financial aid and prevent them from taking final exams, said Cat Jones, one of the student liaisons to the administration.

“It makes standing here a question of privilege, which I think is a really s----y move,” Jones said, but added that “those of us who are here have accepted that risk.”

Still, many protesters have adopted “camp names” in lieu of their real names to protect their privacy.

Jones said it is not in UVM’s best interest to crackdown on protesters.

“I don’t see a positive outcome from the university for arresting and suspending students,” she said. “I think it goes against everything the university stands for.”

Jones added that colleges that have already cracked down on protesters are in for a rude awakening.

“I don’t think universities are thinking through the implications of squashing that – and I don’t think they can squash it – but the symbolism of trying is not something that’s going to go away. It’s something that’s going to haunt them for years.”

What are protesters’ demands?

Protesters say that UVM must agree to five demands before they will tear down their encampment.

The demands are as follows:

• Reveal all financial investments in its $800 million endowment.

• Cut ties with weapon manufacturers, Israeli companies and all companies involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

• Agree to an academic boycott of Israeli institutions.

• Remove U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield as this year’s commencement speaker and rescind her planned honorary degree.

• Provide amnesty to all protesters.

Jones said protesters are in consistent communication with the administration via student liaisons about all five demands “in varying degrees of progress.” So far, protesters say they have made headway on the first and fourth demands. According to students, UVM has agreed to disclose all investments by the end of the week and promised to consider removing Thomas-Greenfield as commencement speaker.

Thomas-Greenfield angered pro-Palestinian activists after she vetoed U.N. resolutions on three occasions that called for a ceasefire in Gaza. UVM students held a rally on Monday next to the encampment to protest Thomas-Greenfield’s presence at graduation.

Protesters told supporters via Telegram that UVM Provost Patricia Prelock has claimed the people in charge of commencement plan to discuss privately whether Thomas-Greenfield will continue as speaker. Protesters also reported Prelock claims she will inform commencement leadership of “the testimony of Palestinian and Arab students and the widespread opposition of the student body."

Despite these promises, protesters expressed “apprehension” about whether UVM will honestly consider replacing Thomas-Greenfield.

White confirmed that the university is divulging all of its endowment investments this week. When asked about whether UVM is considering removing Thomas-Greenfield as a speaker, he said, "Planning for the 2024 Commencement is ongoing." Additionally, White did not respond to a question about how UVM plans to address the protesters' other three demands.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM pro-Palestine protesters continue campus encampment, make demands