The New School Students for Justice in Palestine (TNS SJP) established their Gaza Solidarity Encampment in the University Center lobby on Sunday, April 21. Since Sunday, members of the encampment have held several events, and the university has stated that students participating face the risk of suspension and expulsion. The New School Free Press Live Updates started Tuesday, April 23. Here’s what we know.
May 3
43 students from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment were arrested this morning
2:58 p.m. — Approximately 26 students have been released so far according to a count by the New School Free Press.
All students arrested by the NYPD have been released and are facing temporary suspension
May 2
April 29
On April 28, The New School Gaza Solidarity Encampment called for a vote of full disclosure and divestment from the university within 24 hours. When the university failed to do so by 3:30 p.m. today, the encampment was expanded to Sheila C. Johnson Design Center on 66 5th Ave.
This announcement came at the same time as a 7902 for Palestine Rally that began at the University Center at 2 p.m. Hundreds of protestors marched from the UC to the Parsons buildings across the street with the help of union marshals who directed the students at the rally as well as held street traffic as they made their way across the street. Students set up three tents inside the buildings, two at Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, and one at the Parsons building on 2 W. 13th St. Other students hung up posters and waved flags and signs.
April 28
This morning, Vice President of Buildings and Campus Operations, Thomas Whalen, was spotted taking down posters from the University Center windows. As of 11 a.m., every poster, drawing, and photo of Palestinian victims put up by members of the encampment, was removed.
According to TNS SJP’s Instagram, “Security tore down posters of martyrs at 5 – 6 am today.” The New School did not respond to a request for comment.
By at least 2 p.m. the posters were back up on the glass facade of the UC.
April 27
Representatives of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment met with Mark Diaz, Vice President for Business and Operations, for the second time to discuss divestment demands. This meeting revealed that via funds, The New School has a position in 13 of the 14 companies that TNS SJP has demanded that the university divest from. One of the companies the university currently invests in is Chevron, an oil and gas corporation, despite the school’s supposed complete divestment from fossil fuels in 2015.
April 23
12:45p.m. – The New School’s Students for Justice in Palestine (TNS SJP) announced a new list of demands for The New School to abide by if it wants the Gaza Solidarity Encampment to end. The new demands include a partnership with the New Student Workers Union (NewSWU) and contingencies for TNS SJP to move the encampment site from the University Center lobby to the Event Cafe.
In a press release sent on a public group chat via Telegram, TNS SJP listed demands for the university, such as fully disclosing all endowment funds, ending the 15-year partnership between the Mannes School of Jazz and Contemporary Music and Israel Conservatory for Music, and agreeing to a NewSWU accretion election.
TNS SJP also stated that if the admin wants the full encampment to be dismantled, they must divest from all 14 companies they had previously listed in their demand letter from Nov 9. The group stated that they would not be negotiating these demands.
Today marks the third day of the encampment in the UC lobby by students who still could face possible suspension from the university.