Depaul University negotiates in badfaith, refuses to Divest
UPDATE: DePaul University cancels Fest, an annual end of the year music festival that takes places in the Quad. The event was scheduled to take place May 17.
DePaul University Divestment Coalition, which launched their encampment on the school’s quad 12 days ago, said the administration has left the negotiating table in bad faith.
According to Student Government Association President Parveen Murdi, the administration was unresponsive to a majority of the coalition's demands, especially divestment. The university offered some members of the coalition one meeting with the board of trustees sometime in the next sixth months. The administration also said they would consider creating a Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) center.
“To some that might sound like a concession but to us that’s non responsive to the demands,” Murdi said.
Because the students would not agree to sign the document that would also limit the coalition in future endeavors, the university called a stalemate on the negotiations and demanded the encampment be removed by May 12 at noon. Students are unsure of what the repercussions are for staying but leaders of the movement are steadfast.
“Despite our many, many, many attempts to clarify, would this administration authorize the Chicago Police Department’s presence on our campus? The president and his engagement team were unwilling to answer that question and so it is unclear to us what happens next. But we know that we are not leaving,” Murdi told Palestine in America.
The coalition brought on attorney Benjamin Meyer to represent and advise them after the administration attempted to pressure the students into signing the agreement Saturday afternoon.
“The university’s response to the student’s demands was very disappointing,” Meyer said during a press conference following the stalemate. “Their negotiating tactics have also been disappointing but I encourage them to come back to the negotiating table on Monday.
Students are calling on their supporters to show up to DePaul Sunday to help protect the encampment. Human rights organizations and alumni in the city are planning on showing up like they have in the past.
“If this organization commits to shamefully bringing the police to raid this peaceful protest filled with our students, children and community members we will show up to protect them,” Nick Suess alumni and member of Coalition for Justice in Palestine said.
