Students set up pro-Palestinian encampment, demand University of Michigan to divest from Israel

Colleen Mastony, UM's spokesperson, said the university will monitor the encampment, especially as final exams begin Thursday.

"Students are able to engage in peaceful protest in many places on campus and, at the same time, the university has a responsibility to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning and academic success," Mastony said. "No one has the right to substantially disrupt university activities or to violate laws or university policies.

"We are working to minimize disruptions to university operations — most especially with classes ending tomorrow and the study period beginning before finals. Safety is always a key priority and, as such, we have increased security on campus. We are carefully monitoring the situation and remain prepared to appropriately address any harassment or threats against any member of our community."

The UM regents have had a policy in place for 20 years that protects UM's $17.9 billion endowment investments from political pressures, Mastony added.

"Much of the money invested through the university’s endowment, for example, is donor funding given to provide long-term financial support for designated purposes," Mastony said.

The Board of Regents restated during a March meeting that UM has no plans to divest.

Before the rally, student Sydni Hite stood near the encampment with other Jewish students and said "antisemitism has been running rampant" on college campuses, including at UM.

"I want to show other Jewish students that we are not alone," said Hite, a Berkley resident. "We are not going to tolerate antisemitism."

Examples of antisemitism at UM have included the removal of signs on campus showing the Israeli hostages in Gaza, she said, "because they're blatantly targeted those posters and they are taking them down and they are just human."

She pointed to a sign outside the encampment that said, "Long Live the Intifada," which she said represents the attacks against Israeli citizens. Rabbi Davey Rosen, CEO of UM Hillel, agreed that the sign is antisemitic.

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