Cal Poly Humboldt will be closed through the weekend, with classwork continuing remotely as the University of Northern California grapples with the Gaza protests and what it calls “hateful graffiti” on campus.
Administrators at the public university in Arcata are considering whether to keep the campus closed beyond Protesters occupied Siemens Hall, an academic and administrative building, and another building,
“Unknown non-students with unknown intentions” are occupying Siemens Hall, which creates an “unpredictable environment,” the university said.
Campus administrators said there were also reports that protesters broke into the president’s office and accessed sensitive materials.
The university said other buildings are at risk of being occupied, as protesters “have shown a willingness to enter open buildings and either lock themselves in or steal equipment” and that the occupation has a “negative impact” on other students who Trying to do this. Complete classwork in the final weeks of the semester.
Officials said “hateful graffiti” has also been painted on university property in recent days, citing at least two areas that have been “tagged with language that is considered harmful to the Jewish community.” Is.” Administrators estimate damages to the complex “in the millions.”
“The university strongly condemns all forms of hatred, bigotry and violence,” campus officials said in a statement. “Anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, hatred and bigotry in all forms have no place at Cal Poly Humboldt. The university is actively providing support to all students and is in contact with local Jewish community leaders.
When pressed for more details on the graffiti, the university did not respond.
Political science major Gerardo Martínez said he saw pro-Palestinian tagging such as “Free Gaza” and “River to Sea” – a slogan that American Jewish Committee Siemens Hall is said to be anti-Semitic. They also noticed some anti-police messages sprayed throughout the campus.
The Anti-Defamation League states on its website that “From River to Sea” is anti-Semitic because it calls for the elimination of Israel and the removal of Jews “from their ancestral homeland” to create a Palestinian state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Is. “The use of this phrase makes members of the Jewish and pro-Israel community feel unsafe and excluded,” the group says.
The junior said he did not consider any of the phrases he saw at the university to be “anti-Semitic.”
“I stand in solidarity with my classmates and applaud their decision to protest nonviolently,” Martinez said. “They want their voices to be heard by creating various forms of resistance to disassociate Cal Poly Humboldt from Israeli organizations involved in the ongoing conflict with Palestinians in Gaza.”
Monday night, Three students were arrested After protesters set up tents inside Siemens Hall and clashed with law enforcement officers wearing helmets and riot shields who arrived on campus.
Transfer student Christina, who asked that her last name not be used for fear of punishment from the school, said she walked out of an art class just after 7:30 that night to find “50 police cars and a helicopter.” .
“I immediately became aware of the scene and I thought there was a shooter,” said Christina, who said she ran into some of the students who were injured during the protest. The art major said she hung around for a while until she got an email from the school saying the campus was closed.
Christina said she ran back to her class studio to complete a ceramics project, not knowing when she would get access to it. again.
“When students warned that we were being considered trespassers because we were still on campus, I put the final seal on it,” he said.
Christina can’t do this because the campus is closed Access supplies and projects she planned to work on over the weekend. He said Any further restrictions on campus after Sunday will delay final projects.
The semester ends on May 11.
Christina said she is waiting for the university to offer “compensation for the time lost.”
“In the event of any other exchange or service or goods, I would expect compensation for not receiving the service I have paid for,” she said, adding that switching to online classes was not practical for those arts students. Who spend hours working in the studio.
Senior Zachary Meyer said he supports the protests on campus and considers himself among those who “stand with the people of Gaza.” He condemned the administration’s alleged security concerns that led to the closure of the campus, which he called “disgraceful.”
Meyer, who is set to graduate next month, described the protesters as peaceful, especially at the faculty teach-in held on Wednesday.
The economics and environmental studies major called Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocide and ecological destruction” and said, “Environmental action can only happen if our most vulnerable people are freed.”
Meyer, president of the school’s Environmental Studies Club, said he also understands the frustration over the temporary move to remote learning.
“There are definitely some students on campus who are angry and upset about not getting paid at a fair rate, and student employees are upset about basically being laid off,” he said. “But it was (the administration’s) decision to close the campus.”
He said that “anger, emotions and frustration should be thrown out like this.”
School officials said staff who can work remotely will continue to do so and supervisors will remain in contact with workers. A spokesperson for the school said late Thursday that the president had authorized administrative pay for some employees who were scheduled to work and either did not have access to the campus or were unable to telecommute.
