Faculty Response to “Update on Welch Field Encampment and Moving Forward” 

Dear 

President Paul J. Fitzgerald,

Vice President and Provost of Academic Affairs Eileen Fung,

Vice President of Student Life Julie Orio,

Associate Vice President, Student Life and Dean of Students Shannon Gary,

Director of Office of Student Conduct Ryan Garcia,

“To be in good faith”: absence of any intent to defraud, act maliciously, or take unfair advantage.

A good faith negotiation begins with a commitment to a truthful narrative. A good faith negotiation includes an equal representation of sides and freedom from fear of retaliation or punishment. The recent May 21 communication and the stream of student suspension notices that followed are continued evidence that the University of San Francisco (USF) Administration is not acting “in good faith” towards their students, faculty, librarians, staff, or community members in four ways: 1) Using words that mislead; 2) controlling the platform of communication; 3) sharing only a one-sided narrative; and 4) refusing to grant amnesty and pursuing punishment of free speech.

Using Words that Mislead

Utilizing words and phrases such as “graffiti,” “repairing physical damage,” and “campus disruption” intentionally and with malice paints a picture of disorder and misconduct that is far from the truth. ‘Graffiti’ was the use of washable chalk, damage included tape residue left on poles, and disruption was exactly the point. Peaceful protests are peaceful but serve a disruptive purpose. Part of a social justice agenda is forcing people outside of their comfort zones so that they may begin to see the pain, suffering, and injustices in this world. This includes protests during graduation and other culminating celebrations that visibly and publicly mourn the mass starvation and killing that continue in Palestine. 

Controlling the Platform of Communication

Speaking about the student protests on a platform that is fully controlled by Administration, knowing that students do not hold a similar platform to respond, is malicious and unfair. Administration’s email communications surrounding the peaceful student protest of genocide in Gaza have painted the students as unorganized and dangerous when their efforts have been anything but. For each of the 21 days, the encampment had been highly organized, staffed by students, and fully transparent. Students and faculty allies organized donations of supplies and food for three meals a day; trained one another in medical and public safety protocols; facilitated political education and community circles; organized an outdoor public library and clothing swap; engaged in daily interfaith prayer and more. Students did this all while researching and preparing a 7-page statement with detailed demands, proposed processes for moving forward, and elaborations of their reasoning. In the final days, students and faculty allies organized a graduation photo booth for graduates to take pictures in support of the encampment and a People’s University graduation to celebrate graduates, while also grieving that there are no universities left in Gaza. None of these Herculean efforts are communicated in the Administration’s emails. Instead, the Administration’s responses have attempted to vilify students, faculty, and other people of conscience who have flooded the students with support.

Sharing Only a One-Sided Narrative

The May 21 email from the USF Administration starts with the statement: “summary of events that led to the demonstrators vacating the field.” This phrasing leads readers to believe that this is the narrative in full. To speak for the students in this way and to control their narrative is disingenuous and disrespectful. We would like to provide a different perspective. It is our understanding that students held an internal rally on Sunday afternoon to collectively decide to disencamp. Their actions were taken because they had completed their mission of awareness on campus, committed to continuing efforts in the future, and wanted to ensure safety for all participants. They did not feel that the USF Administration had met their demands. The one action item Administration agreed to – the task force – had already been agreed to in response to the previously passed ASUSF resolution. This is why the rope was down and fewer students were present: they were preparing to decamp and clean up peacefully after making appropriate plans. When facilities personnel arrived with force on Monday, the students were scared and frustrated. They had not yet received communications of forced disbandment and then were given less than 24 hours to vacate. What students had planned as a slow, careful process to remove any and all ‘debris’ became a rushed and chaotic event.    

Refusing to Grant Amnesty and Pursuing Punishment of Free Speech 

To clarify, we believe that the Administration has not in good faith offered amnesty to students and faculty participating in protest. In the May 13th email, the USF Administration chose to pose an ultimatum disguised as amnesty, demanding that students disencamp by 3pm on May 14 or face consequences. Students chose to remain through graduation to elevate their voices and demands to a wider audience of USF family and friends. 

After graduation and the students’ decision to disencamp, the USF Administration chose to dismantle the encampment, issue interim suspensions to at least 20 students, and possibly initiate disciplinary actions against others in the USF community. Students are currently charged with code of conduct violations from “Complicity” to “Harm to Persons,” “Failure to Comply,” and “Damage to Property.” These students are not allowed on University property or to attend classes and University activities. We are already hearing that these disciplinary actions, taken without any due process, are preventing students from attending required summer courses and internships, delaying graduation, barring students from work study jobs, jeopardizing financial aid, denying students shelter in the dorms, and severely impacting their mental health. Our courageous students who have demonstrated the moral and political clarity to speak out against genocide are now being deprived of educational opportunities and face uncertainty as to their future on our campus.  

Choosing to respond with punishment demonstrates the University Administration’s callousness towards the suffering of others abroad and their failure to understand the disciplined courage of their own students. It is also a failure in leadership. In particular, it demonstrates a lack of discernment and neglect of our collective Jesuit values. We believe that this bodes poorly for the new year and for our confidence in this Administration. Continuing negotiations, granting amnesty, and providing a more balanced platform for communication is the way to move forward, not punishment and half truths. 

It is helpful to remember that our students took courageous action within the context of our country’s direct and our institution’s indirect support of over 75 years of occupation and apartheid, and more recently, the seven months of recognized war crimes and plausible genocide that have killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, destroyed every university and most hospitals and schools in Gaza, and are actively starving 2.2 million people. These students - our students - have had the courage, integrity, and worldly knowledge to do something extraordinary and speak out. They are truly Changing the World from Here. It is a shame that administrators have chosen to discredit and punish their actions and further disillusion both students and faculty in the process. This moment demands that you do better. Our community demands that you do better. 

Moving Forward

To reiterate, we would like to see the USF Administration: 1) immediately rescind suspensions and grant amnesty to students, faculty, librarians, and staff who participated in the People’s University; and 2) continue negotiations with leaders of the People’s University for Palestine to outline ways to constructively address their demands to declare, disclose, divest, detach, and defend.

Sincerely,

USF-Educators for Justice in Palestine (EJP)

EJP is a collective of more than 80 faculty, librarians and staff at USF and operates with a core executive committee that drafted this letter with input from the membership.