The man, who said his name was John Brinkmann, approached the students asking for discourse and for the return of his property. Northwestern police did not intervene as the students refused to give them back.

Outside a fence separating the encampment from the sidewalk, sophomore Jeremy Berkun stopped with two of his friends to watch the scene.

Berkun, a Jewish student, said he was disappointed in the dialogue on campus between students.

“It’s clear that the university and the student body is very, very against Israel at the moment,” he said. “And I just wish that there was a little bit more dialogue amongst the Jewish students here who feel very connected to that land and to the nation that has kept us safe.”

Behind Berkun, a rabbi consoled a girl in tears.

In a statement shared on social media, Northwestern Hillel, the university’s Jewish center, said the encampment reflected “a disturbing and quickly escalating trend of anti-semitic rhetoric and actions both nationally and on our own campus.”

The university’s South Asian Student Association said on Instagram the group was moving the location of a Saturday Holi celebration, originally scheduled to be held on Deering Meadow, to support the encampment protest.

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