MSU students set up camp to pressure university to get rid of Israel

Michigan State University students joined students from across the country to set up a camp on campus Thursday to pressure the university to divest from Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The students said they were negotiating with campus police, who informed them that the camp violated university policies. About 25 tents were set up in People’s Park, between Wells Hall and the MSU International Center.

Dozens of MSU students demonstrate on campus where they have set up camp on Thursday, April 25, 2024. The students are calling on the university to withdraw aid to Israel amid its war in Gaza.

But the students said they planned to stay at the site in solidarity with the Palestinians until MSU ditches Israel.

“I am willing to continue my fight and my advocacy and I hope that the university chooses to honor Spartan values instead of silencing us,” said Saba Saed, a student in MSU’s Arab Culture Society. “It’s very important for us to stand in solidarity with anyone who is going through genocide. Secondly, to me it’s the most Spartan thing… it’s true to our values. The most important thing is that I don’t want us to fund apartheid.” and genocide and maintain our position.

The MSU board has an ordinance that prohibits camping on campus property unless the camping is tied to an official campus event, university spokeswoman Emily Guerrant said. A permit can be applied for, but without one, violations are subject to a misdemeanor citation. MSU police informed organizers of the permit requirement and organizers are believed to be seeking one, Guerrant added.

“The students are exercising their First Amendment rights and their right to free speech, which we fully support,” Guerrant said. “It’s been very peaceful.”

But Robyn Hughey, executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at MSU, called the camps “deeply troubling and problematic.”

“Students have the right to protest, but they do not have the right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students,” Hughey said. “Our most important priority is to keep Jewish students safe, first and foremost and always. The university has indicated that protesters will need to obtain a permit from the Board of Trustees to continue their encampment. It is my hope that the board and administration will enforce universities’ own ordinances while continuing to balance security with freedom of expression.”

The MSU camp comes as students took final exams and more than 10,000 students prepared to graduate, with graduation ceremonies beginning Friday. It also comes as Jews are celebrating the seven-day Passover holiday, which began at sundown Monday.

It’s the second camp to appear this week on a Michigan college campus. University of Michigan students set up dozens of tents on the Diag on Monday, held a rally and said they would not allow university officials to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

Organizers say the camps are also to support Palestinians living in Gaza, where health officials said approximately 34,000 Palestinians have been killed. Some 130 Israeli citizens remain hostages held by Hamas since the militant group launched a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 that killed around 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. Israeli officials rejected accusations of genocide and responded that the October 7 attack on Israel was genocide.

Across the country, tensions are rising as college students set up protest camps, leading to arrests of protesters at Columbia University in New York and Yale University in Connecticut. Harvard University closed the center of its campus, Harvard Yard, until Friday in anticipation of student protests. Columbia University President Nemat Shafik faces calls to resign after calling police, who arrested dozens of people.

MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz, in office for less than two months, showed up to speak with protesters, who included community members, according to Guerrant.

“He’s been meeting with a lot of the student organizations and I wanted to go there and listen to them and find out why they feel it’s important to come out,” Guerrant said. “He supports their right and ability to protest.”

Among the protesters was Laura Sager, a board member of the Greater Lansing Peace Education Center. She said the camp that was set up at 5:30 a.m. had grown to more than 100 people by late morning as students finished their exams and expected more as community members finished their work day.

He said police were talking to students about the camp remaining, saying it was an arrestable offense to have tents up.

“There’s a group here that will stand firm,” Sager said. “There are people here willing to be arrested if absolutely necessary. We hope that the trustees will not embarrass themselves further by trying to do so. But we are here with determination.”

She said she was willing to be arrested.

“I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and the people of Gaza and the horrific and brutal attacks, mass murders, famines and intentional destruction of a community, and it is the least I can do as a person who cares about human rights and the international law….” said Sager, a mother and grandmother who lives in East Lansing.

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MSU students set up camp to pressure university to get rid of Israel

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