Dear Campus Community Members,

This afternoon, members of Swarthmore Students for Justice in Palestine, a suspended student organization, and other students began an encampment on Trotter Lawn. They erected tents and repeatedly used social media to invite non-community members to join them in protest, resulting in unknown and unrecognizable people coming to campus. These actions put many of the most vulnerable members of our community at serious risk. In an abundance of caution and for the safety of the community, we restricted vehicle access to campus and urged people to avoid the area.

We told the students, both verbally and in writing, to leave Trotter Lawn because their actions violate the Student Code of Conduct. This includes the unauthorized use of College property by using tents on campus lawns to form an encampment. The code also prohibits students from failing to comply when asked by College officials to provide accurate identification and to present their OneCard when asked.

Please note, neither of these code prohibitions pertains to the content of the speech being promoted at the protest. I have affirmed time and again the College’s belief in and support of individuals’ rights to peaceful protest and dissent.

Students were also told, twice in writing as well as verbally, that if they failed to disperse, they would be placed on interim suspension, which includes the loss of academic privileges and access to campus services (including housing and food). For seniors, this would include a ban from Commencement activities.

Given these actions, we are working to issue interim suspensions to students who were warned and who continue to participate in the encampment.

We are considering all options to bring this event to a peaceful end.

Sincerely,

Val Smith
President