Protests at UNC Asheville spark chancellor and university police intervention

Protests at UNC Asheville spark chancellor and university police intervention

Since May 2, University of North Carolina at Asheville students continue to protest the war in Israel on the quad in collaboration with university groups nationwide. “Our main goal right now is solidarity with the students around the country who have the resources to set up larger encampments and heavier resistance. We are building community between students, faculty and wider community members in Asheville. We are learning about the cause and talking to each other while holding discussions and teach-ins and sharing food,” said Ash Pilo, a 21-year-old graduating senior. Pilo is a co-organizer, media liaison for the protest and UNCA student studying sociology and psychology. “We are standing outside. Peacefully. Quietly. Letting them know our stance on the university being invested in Israel,” Pilo said. “We want transparency about university investments and we want to make our voices heard about our feelings about the genocide in Palestine.”

On the first day of the protest

The university held a faculty senate meeting in the Laurel Forum, in which the chancellor was present, where protesters stood outside of the windows with signs. “We do not have the details of everything they are discussing but we do know they are discussing the anti-DEI policies that have been affecting the North Carolina system at large,” Pilo said.

University Fellowships for Faculty Diversity program

FaCulty were sent outside to ask the protesters about their demands at various points during the meeting. According to Blu Buchanan, a UNCA sociology professor, in an email with the subject line “My Potential Arrest,” which was sent to all of their current students, the protesters demand divestment of the UNC system from Israel, transparency in funding, a ceasefire resolution, and cutting ties with Israeli universities while instead establishing ties with Gazan universities.

University police response

University police have not arrested any demonstrators at this time. “At UNC Asheville, students and employees enjoy the freedom to express their opinions, engage in discussion and debate, or otherwise express themselves. However, it’s important to note that this freedom is subject to the university’s policies, which are primarily designed to ensure safety and prevent disruption of campus activities,” said UNCA Chancellor Kimberly Van Noort. Van Noort sent out three official responses regarding the protest throughout the weekend. “On multiple occasions, University staff notified the demonstrators of policy violations that required remedy or the demonstration would be required to end,” Van Noort said.

Response from the university

Michael Strysick, the chief university communication and marketing officer, said reasonable guidelines exist for campus visitors who follow the best practices of sister institutions in the UNC system. Finals week calls for extra attention so exams are not disrupted. “As the chancellor mentioned in her Monday email message, the university experienced disruption on Sunday afternoon due to use of campus space by non-university users. Based on a concern of further potential disruption, the university acted, as permitted under university policy, to make sure our community members could use the space amid exam week,” Strysick said.

Student perspective

Strysick said the chancellor meets with members of senior staff, university police and the emergency management council regularly for advice on the situation. “These conversations complement the ongoing and extensive planning and detailed protocols in place to manage conflicts and incidents, which includes considerations for external involvement and so-called public users of our spaces,” Strycisk said. Strysick said policies are enacted to ensure students’ free expression on campus while protecting the safety of students and enforcing policies that prohibit disruption of university operations is paramount. “Beyond the assurance Chancellor van Noort provided in her recent message that “university operations will concur as planned and without disruption,” I can attest that meetings are ongoing to discuss how to have a wonderful celebration for our graduating seniors that is free of disruption, which will not be tolerated for this milestone ceremony,” Strysick said.

Future of the protests

Van Noort said the demonstrators were prompted to leave because using the quad after 11 p.m. is not permitted because it is unsuitable for overnight use. The space use policy does not explicitly state there can be no overnight use of the quad. Still, it does say the use of any university space must be appropriate for the size, design and purpose of the space. “The email says the safety concerns were prudent because of bear activity, but folks had no trouble with the bears at all. Personally I’d take the bears over admin or campus police any day of the week,” Robinson said.

University investments and divestment

On Monday, Van Noort released an email addressing the demonstrators’ demands. “With respect to divestment, UNC Asheville endowments are managed by the UNC Management Corporation, along with other UNC System university endowments. We do not have direct control over the portfolio,” Van Noort said. Strysick said assets are not managed by the university but are managed by the UNC Management Company, a nonprofit providing investment management services to the UNC system. According to the Citizen Times, in June 2019, the UNC Asheville Board of Trustees made state history by becoming the first UNC university to divest a portion of the $50 million endowment from fossil fuels and shift $5 million to Walden Asset Management, which manages the investment of environmental, social and governance (ESG). “We’re also not sure what misinformation she’s referring to. UNCA divested from fossil fuels in 2019, so they definitely have some control over the financial portfolio,” Robinson said. “The investment material isn’t public, but there’s a lot of campus material about how proud they are to have Bank of America as a sponsor.”

Humanitarian perspective

“I am a human who is against genocide. I don’t need a personal connection to know it is wrong to kill people. To know it is a war crime to engage in collective punishment and to restrict food and water. I am a human who cares about human rights,” Pilo said. Pilo said they did not expect resistance from the university, given that they are peacefully protesting using their First Amendment rights to speak out in a public area. “We have every legal right to be here. We are doing nothing illegal and thus we do not expect police resistance but we are not afraid of them. We feel confident,” Pilo said. “It is not anti semetic to be anti genocide. We have many jewish students here with us today. We also have members of the community group, The Jewish Force for Peace.”

Educational perspective

Kitt Crabtree, a 21-year-old biology and sociology student, said the stuff they are doing is important, but the reason they are doing it is more important than themselves. “Palestinians are human beings just like us. We are all people who deserve to love and live freely and happily in our homes with our families and that is something that no one or no occupation or state should be able to take away from somebody,” Crabtree said. Crabtree said their ultimate goal is to end the genocide of Palestinians and for all people to live freely and safely in their homes. “The most important thing to do right now is help boycott divestment and sanctions efforts,” Crabtree said. “It is a very easy way to put your money where your politics are.”

Source: The Blue Banner