BRYN MAWR— Administrative officials and President Kim Cassidy have requested organizers of the pro-Palestinian encampment on Merion Green to move by end of day.
An email with the subject line “Campus Protest Complaints and Required Action” was sent to students, faculty, and staff at 11:27 a.m. today. In it, President Kim Cassidy, along with Dean Karlene Burell and Dean Tomiko, stated that administrators spoke with the encampment organizers earlier in the day and told them to “shift [the encampment] to a space adjacent to Senior Row by the end of the day today –Thursday, May 2nd.”
According to multiple sources who were at the meeting, and spoke to the Bi-Co on the condition of anonymity for what they allege is a fear of retribution, Tomiko Jenkins, the Dean of Undergraduate Student Life, and Cheryl Lynn Horsey, the Chief Enrollment Officer, were among those administrative representatives present. Sources told the Bi-Co News that Jenkins and Horsey maintained that encampment tents would be moved if students did not move them themselves by the deadline set by President Cassidy. Jenkins and Horsey have not responded to a Bi-Co request for comment concerning this allegation as of yet.
Gerald Fayette, the Associate Director of Bi-College Campus Safety, told the Bi-Co that while campus safety was near where the meeting was occurring, they themselves did not participate in any discussion. Fayette added that campus safety was not currently aware of any plans to move the tents if students did not acquiesce to President Cassidy’s request.
Previously, on Tuesday, April 30, traditions representative Aaniyah Alexander sent an email to the student body saying that the May Pole dancing event would be cancelled to account for the encampment and limited location ability. Alexander told the Bi-Co News “traditions representatives for this year were not approached by President Cassidy nor asked for our input on the statement released today” in an email to a Bi-Co News reporter.
This is an evolving story. Updates will be added as the Bi-College News receives comment from sources.
Update, 05/02/2024 3:12 p.m.
At 3:05 p.m., Traditions Representatives Aaniyah Alexander BMC ’25, Anna Rouminatsev BMC ’25, Kendall Phillips BMC ’26, and Annie Schinella BMC ’26, sent an email to the Bryn Mawr student body standing in solidarity with the “People’s College.” The email stated that they were “alarmed by the email sent to the student body and wider community this morning in regard to May Day planning and the People’s College for the Liberation of Palestine.” The representatives stated “we are outraged by the gross mischaracterization of student representatives and want to make it very plain that Traditions were never formally notified of the message sent this morning.”
Update, 05/02/2024 6:39 p.m.
At around 4:30 p.m., student organizers of the “People’s College” sent an email to administrators in response to their request for the encampment to be moved. They informed administration that organizers were willing to comply with this request on the condition that administrative representatives organized a time to meet with student protesters to discuss the possibility of their demands being met prior to May Day. Organizers added that if a meeting were to take place and demands were not met, then the encampment would be moved back onto Merion Green.
At a 4 p.m. rally at the encampment, over 500 students, staff, and faculty came to show support for the “People’s College.” One campus safety car and two officers were present, watching the rally from afar.
Update, 05/03/2024 7:16 a.m.
The encampment, referred to by organizers as the “People’s College for the Liberation of Palestine,” remains on Merion Green in defiance of the administration’s request. As of publication, there has been no communication from administration concerning this development.
