The pro-Palestinian encampment constructed in Harvard Yard has continued despite being in “direct violation” of university policies, a campus spokesman said Wednesday.
Harvard has “repeatedly communicated that participation in activities that do not comply with policies will result in disciplinary measures,” the spokesman said, adding that the university would not discuss potential disciplinary measures for individual students.
But, more than 30 student protesters were facing discipline from the school, according to the Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper. Those students were called to appear before Harvard’s Administrative Board, which is responsible for enforcement of the school’s policies.
The school has closed Harvard Yard to the public while the encampment is set up, with security at multiple gates to check for Harvard identification.
The encampment at Harvard was in its seventh day on Wednesday, and had expanded to take over the lawn between University Hall and Harvard Hall, the Crimson reported.
Nationwide campus protests began at Columbia in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza after Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7. Militants killed about 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. Vowing to stamp out Hamas, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry.
As cease-fire negotiations appeared to gain steam, it wasn’t clear whether those talks would inspire an easing of protests.
Israel and its supporters have branded the university protests as antisemitic, while Israel’s critics say it uses those allegations to silence opposition. Although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic remarks or violent threats, organizers of the protests, some of whom are Jewish, say it is a peaceful movement aimed at defending Palestinian rights and protesting the war.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
