May 10, 2024

As the AAUP’s statement “In Defense of the Right to Free Speech and Peaceful Protest on University Campuses” indicates, “colleges and universities are places of free and open expression, inquiry, and debate. Even in sharp disagreement, our goal is communication in service of learning and understanding.” In that spirit, the AAUP Executive Committee strongly encourages the SU administration to immediately begin formal negotiations with the SU and ESF students occupying the Gaza Solidarity encampment concerning their list of six demands. 

Given the extremely disturbing heavy-handed tactics on other campuses, where police in riot gear have thrown protesters and sometimes members of the press, medics, and legal observers to the ground, cuffed them and arrested them, we are relieved that SU has not taken those tactics. Nevertheless, we are concerned that students have been threatened with violations of the disruption clause of the student code of conduct  before the administration has engaged in good faith negotiations toward a peaceful resolution. Without dialogue, there can be no resolution.
In 2020, Syracuse University suspended–then reinstated #NotAgainSU student protesters for their occupation of Crouse-Hinds Hall. We urge the administration to refrain from applying that strategy again. Syracuse University has the opportunity to be a national leader in responding productively to the protesters’ demands and not deploying draconian use of police force or suspension in responding to students expressing their political convictions.  We can do and be better than universities and colleges across the country who have militarized their campuses and responded with suppression and violence rather than dialogue and free speech in line with our educational mission.

Signed,

Executive Committee of Syracuse University Chapter of the AAUP

• Matt Huber – President
• Joanna Spitzner – Vice President
• Diane Grimes – Treasurer
• Matthew Mulvaney – Secretary
• Ivy Kleinbart – Non-TT Faculty Representative
• Eileen Schell – Member at Large
• Crystal Bartolovich – Past President