PHILADELPHIA — University of Pennsylvania interim President J. Larry Jameson, in a Monday email to the campus, reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment should come down, but said the university is weighing its response against the risk that any forceful action could cause.

At Penn, he said the risk is more significant because of the university’s open campus location in West Philadelphia.

“It is in violation of our policies,” he said of the encampment, “it is disrupting campus operations and events, and it is causing fear for many in our large, diverse community, especially among our Jewish students. But any response to the encampment must balance possible escalation of the current situation with the need to protect the safety and rights of everyone.”

The university’s position, however, could change, he emphasized.

“We will maintain an enhanced security presence to support physical safety and will adjust our response as conditions warrant,” he wrote.

His statement came as the encampment was in day 12 and as finals are about to begin at the Ivy League institution. Around the country, some colleges have called in police to disband encampments, while others, including Rutgers and Brown, have negotiated agreements with protesters, only to face criticism from Jewish groups and some lawmakers.

Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway said during a meeting of the board of governors Monday that the university has received thousands of emails expressing “frustration or dismay” since it negotiated an agreement last week that led to the voluntary dismantling of the pro-Palestinian encampment there.

One New Jersey senator has called for hearings into the matter, while another condemned the university’s action.

The agreement included commitments for the president and chair of the joint committee on investments to meet with up to five students to discuss their request for Rutgers to divest from any firm connected to Israel, the establishment of an Arab Cultural Center and staff training in anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, and anti-Muslim racism.

“I am confident in our decisions,” Holloway said. “They allowed us to maintain a safe and controlled environment, to protect Rutgers students and Rutgers property, and to assure that our students’ academic progress — taking finals and completing the semester — was not impeded.”

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