Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania J. Larry Jameson has called for the end of the continuing pro-Palestinian protest encampment on campus, which has now entered its twelfth day. In defiance of school policies, the protest's presence has sparked safety concerns for the institution while impinging on operations and events. "The encampment should end," Jameson declared in a statement released Monday, highlighting "fear for many in our large, diverse community, especially among our Jewish students," as reported by CBS News Philadelphia.
The situation has aggravated tensions on campus, with instances of vandalism such as the defacement of the iconic Ben Franklin statue and the Button sculpture. Adding fuel to the concerns, there have been reports of harassment and threatening speech directed towards students. Jameson, addressing the turmoil, cited a need for de-escalation while mentioning that "Every day the encampment exists, the campus is less safe" as per a new statement obtained by KYW Newsradio.
Recently, the Philadelphia Chapter of the Israeli American Council, along with Jewish students from Penn, submitted a petition to address the alleged harassment and antisemitic undertones emanating from the protest zone. The protests have been marked by a refusal to allow police to conduct ID checks, with many involved not being students of the university, as found in a university statement covered by 6abc. The consequences for student protesters could include disciplinary actions that might jeopardize their continuation at Penn.
The university administration continues to advocate for dialogue, though they express concern over documents circulating with instructions for escalating protests, potentially including building occupations and violence. "We are concerned that many of the protestors occupying the encampment on College Green are seeking such a confrontation," Jameson told 6abc. Amidst this unrest, the president has met several times with protesters to negotiate a resolution, but the university alleges there remains "an unwillingness to negotiate on reasonable terms to a conclusion," as stated in materials released earlier this week.
