UNC Asheville Chancellor Addresses Israel-Gaza War Protest on Campus

UNC Asheville Chancellor Addresses Israel-Gaza War Protest on Campus

After a student coalition protesting the war in Gaza on UNC Asheville’s campus ramped up demonstration efforts over the weekend, university officials intervened, warning the group that staying overnight or refusal to disperse could result in arrest. Protestors on the Quad at the heart of campus have been told to leave or face arrest twice, the first on May 4 after university officials learned of the group’s plans to switch their daytime protest into a 24-hour presence. The second was on May 5, when administration required protestors to show their student identification cards and many refused.

Chancellor’s Warning

Around 8:30 p.m. May 4, student affairs staff told the demonstrators that overnight use is not permitted on the Quad and that continued use past 11 p.m. would result in disciplinary action. Soon after, two black bears roaming the campus made their way to the Quad. Public safety officers were dispatched to the Quad outside the Ramsey Library around 10 p.m. to advise the demonstrators.

Protestors Stand Firm

“It was only a couple hours later, when both campus police had left and the black bears had left that administration came back and told us that we were out of policy and needed to vacate the premises or risk arrest,” said Wolfie Lane, a 26-year-old senior majoring in math and physics who was acting as spokesperson. That was after 11 p.m. and “more than a dozen protestors remained on the Quad,” according to van Noort’s campus message.

Chancellor Addresses Demands

Less than two days later, the chancellor addressed some of the group’s demands but declined to provide a stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict, citing the importance of “institutional neutrality” to the “open exchange of ideas” and to uninhibited “scholarship, creativity, and expression.” The group’s demands are similar to those of other pro-Gazan college protests, including showing transparency with UNC system investments in Israel, cutting ties with Israeli universities, establishing links with Gazan universities, and endorsing a ceasefire in the conflict zone.

Counter Protestor Incident

Around 6 p.m. May 5, a counter protestor arrived and started yelling insults and making racist remarks. Demonstrators remained unfazed and continued chanting their demands. University staff intervened and found non-university-affiliated individuals hiding in a locked building. The area was then limited to UNC Asheville students, faculty, and staff due to safety concerns and potential disruption of exams.

Chancellor’s Response

In messages to the campus, van Noort emphasized the university’s commitment to principles of free expression while ensuring compliance with university policies. She noted that UNC Asheville does not have direct control over endowment investments and stressed the university’s role as a neutral forum for robust expression.

Next Steps

Despite these developments, the protestors plan to continue their daytime demonstration, seeking transparency and advocating for change in university policies related to the Israel-Gaza conflict. The chancellor’s response has sparked further conversation on campus about the role of universities in global conflicts and the boundaries of free expression.