The University of Oregon’s student encampment says it’s received a deadline to disperse.
According to a letter shared with KLCC, administrators have given protesters until noon Tuesday to stop violating the school’s reservation and camping policies. After that point, students could be punished for student conduct code violations.
Encampment spokesperson Carolyn Roderique said students are concerned about a police response moving forward, but they're not prepared to leave.
"This is the entire point of protests, of civil disobedience," said Roderique. "It's not supposed to be we roll over and we take it, and we go into a little corner where they want us to be.”
Organizers said UO has offered potential responses to some of the encampment's demands. That includes more education at the university around the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
However, UO hasn't agreed to divest from Israel's government or its universities, which organizers have said is central to their cause.
In an email to KLCC, UO spokesperson Angela Seydel declined to confirm the existence of Tuesday's deadline.
"Out of respect to the ongoing discussions and those working toward a peaceful resolution to the encampment demonstration, we are not commenting on those discussions at this time," said Seydel.
Jewish groups respond
Meanwhile, in a letter this afternoon, several local Jewish organizations condemned the encampment and called on the university to act.
Ducks 4 Israel, Oregon Hillel and the Jewish Federation of Lane County are among those who signed the statement. It was sent to the UO President and Board of Trustees, according to The Daily Emerald.
Speaking to KLCC Friday, Ducks 4 Israel member Luda Isakharov said UO had allowed a double standard by not enforcing the rules that all other campus groups have to follow.
Isakharov also said the encampment is intimidating to many Jewish students, who see phrases such as "from the River to the Sea" as advocating for violence against Jewish people.
“A lot of the wording on these posters around the encampment and the chants at their rallies are extremely hurtful, causing a lot of pain to people in my community and to myself,” said Isakharov. “It is painful and emotional to walk by signs that call for the destruction of your homeland."
The encampment is now in its second week.
