Caving to Protesters, University Offers Full-Ride Scholarship to Palestinian Students
Northwestern University made a number of concessions to radical protesters who have occupied Deering Meadow, a large field on campus, for several days.
Northwestern University President Michael Schill released a statement announcing the terms of the agreement that the administration made with a representative group of students and faculty taking part in the demonstrations.
The negotiations did not include plans to divest from Israel-affiliated companies and institutions; however, it did commit to re-establish its Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility in the coming fall semester which will “include representation from students, faculty, and staff.”
Included in the groveling list of concessions made by the university to de-escalate the protests was a commitment to provide five Palestinian students with full-ride scholarships as well as guaranteed faculty positions for Palestinian academics.
“The University will support visiting Palestinian faculty and students at risk (funding two faculty per year for two years; and providing full cost of attendance for five Palestinian undergraduates to attend Northwestern for the duration of their undergraduate careers),” the document states. “The University commits to fundraise to sustain this program beyond this current commitment.”
The agreement also permits students and faculty to continue the disruptive demonstrations and allows one “aid tent” to remain at the “Gaza liberation encampment” on Deering Meadow. The university additionally stated that it will permit students to use sound amplification devices throughout the demonstrations, so long as students receive approval before use, and committed to “considering these requests in good faith.”
Northwestern University also committed to providing and renovating a house for “MENA” (Middle Eastern, North African) and Muslim students “that is conducive to community building as soon as practicably possible.”
Schill said that the agreement “represents a sustainable and de-escalated path forward, and enhances the safety of all members of the Northwestern community while providing space for free expression that complies with University rules and policies.”
Many conservatives online have criticized the university’s handling of the campus occupation for being overly generous to the protesters, while mainstream media has hailed the negotiations as an “example” for other universities to follow.
“This decision rewards the pro-terror, anti-Israel, and anti-America aggressors on campus,” the Israeli consulate in Chicago posted on social media. “This appeasement agreement is a dark day in Northwestern history,”
The president warned in his statement on Monday that “Acts of antisemitism, anti-Muslim/Arab racism, and hate will not be tolerated, and community members who can be identified participating in such acts will face disciplinary action.”
