UW-Madison admin, students for Palestine share status of last semester’s agreement

By Camberyn Kelley, WMTV, Sep. 5, 2024

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – UW-Madison students and administration share the status of an agreement created after pro-Palestine protests on campus last spring.

It’s been four months since students encamped on Library Mall.

UW Madison student and member of Students for Justice in Palestine (SPJ), Dahlia Saba feels like things are not moving forward with the administration.

“Since the end of those negotiations which the university themselves initiated; the university has opened student conduct investigations against 30 people,” Saba said.

In May, members of SPJ and university officials created a two-page agreement that ended the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.” The agreement lists two commitments for students including refraining from disrupting any university operation or activity.

“We expect to see these new rules silence protesters who are in support of Palestinian human rights,” Saba said.

As a Palestinian-American student, Saba said she still feels unheard.

“This shows me that the university doesn’t care about my family members because they insist to continue to invest in companies that are profiting off the bombing and genocide Palestinians in Gaza,” she said.

The document details six commitments for the university to uphold. Item number one explains that administration has limited authority over how endowment is invested and whether the details will be disclosed.

“I think we have yet to see the university is committed in any way to working with its students, to be responsive to the demands of students, community members and be accountable to its own stated goals,” Saba said.

UW-Madison offered a statement saying, “Most notably, UW leaders have offered multiple dates in June, July and August for meetings between SJP, the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association and separately, the Universities of Wisconsin leadership. Meetings have not yet taken place due to the schedules of participating students.”

According to the agreement, as of last month the university posted a position for a student focused staff member in the Division of Student Affairs. The person hired would support students impacted by war, violence and displacement.