OSU Palestine Solidarity Coalition:
I have followed discussions between OSU leaders and representatives of your coalition closely, and I understand these conversations have been productive. Less than 24 hours after you sent your demands, OSU leaders shared information and presented a set of actions OSU will undertake that are responsive to your concerns and aligned with the university’s mission and values. In sharing our response, we were able to draw on more than six months and many hours of good-faith dialogue between OSU leaders and coalition leaders preceding the overnight encampment.
You have asked for further discussions, and we have made clear we are committed to ongoing engagement with student members of your coalition to advance the actions OSU provided.
OSU has also made clear its expectation that the overnight encampment end today, May 20. This expectation is unrelated to the viewpoints being expressed by the coalition. The encampment is violating university policy, draining limited public safety resources, creating safety risks for you and others, and forcing the cancelation of student-sponsored events, impacting thousands of other community members. Indeed, you requested for the university to keep the overnight encampment safe, and we have done so at significant cost to the university and community.
To this point, no one has been sanctioned for their participation in the overnight encampment despite persistent violation of university policies. If the overnight encampment does not end today, the university will begin a process of holding participants accountable under the Code of Student Conduct, other applicable university policies, and criminal statutes. It is our sincere hope to avoid this outcome.
The university is committed to ongoing engagement with student members of the coalition and supporting peaceful protest consistent with time, place and manner restrictions in OSU’s Freedom of Speech and Expression Policy. I reiterate the university’s expectation that the overnight encampment end today. It is not necessary to expose members of your coalition to disciplinary actions or put the safety of yourselves and others at risk to make your voices heard.
Sincerely,
Jayathi Murthy
President