Protesters reach agreement with Brown University administration, end encampment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Student protesters reached an agreement with administrators at Brown University on the seventh day of their Gaza solidarity encampment.

The Brown Divest Coalition said in a press release that the university agreed to hold a vote on divestment from companies with financial ties to Israeli forces in Palestine.

Brown University confirmed the agreement, saying, in exchange, students would end the encampment by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The Corporation of Brown University committed to inviting five students chosen by the coalition to speak on the “Brown Divest Now” proposal at the corporation’s May meetings as part of the contract.

University President Christina Paxson will request the Advisory Committee on University Resource Management (ACRUM) to advise her on the proposal presented at the corporation meeting.

ACRUM will provide its advice by September 30, and the matter will be placed on the agenda for the corporation business meeting for a vote in October, per the terms of the agreement.

The university also agreed not to retaliate against any faculty, staff, graduate students, undergraduate students, or alumni involved in the encampment.

Students found in violation of the code of student conduct will still face administrative review meetings, but will not advance to administrative hearings or student conduct board hearings that can result in suspension or higher.

The coalition said both parties signed the deal around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“21 students were arrested for this demand, then 41 students were arrested for this demand, then 19 students went on hunger strike for this demand,” said Ariela Rosenzweig of the Brown Divest Coalition. “And so, to have to won it over the course of this encampment, to have shown the university that they must listen to their students, I think it’s a big win.”

Protesters maintained that they would continue to hold the university accountable until the corporation vote in October.

Some Jewish students on campus felt that the resolution was a step in the wrong direction.

“I think by agreeing to take these issues up with the corporation now, it’s sending a message to the students that causing this fuss and doing these protests works,” said Lila David of Brown Students for Israel. “And that they’ve caused enough of a fuss to now where they’re going to listen to them, rather then from the get-go taking one stance or another.”

Students told ABC 6 News that the charges against the 41 students arrested for protesting inside of University Hall back in December have not been dropped.