In an email sent out to Bryn Mawr students, faculty and staff, President Kim Cassidy reaffirmed the college’s stance in remaining neutral on the war in Gaza, stating that she is proposing a “new path” forward in an attempt to ease the continued tensions on campus as the encampment enters its second week on Merion Green and Bryn Mawr College prepares for commencement.
Sent out on Monday May 6th at 5:57 PM, the email stated that Bryn Mawr “differed from other schools in modelling advocacy that reflected understanding and respect” with reference to the ongoing peaceful protests taking place within the College. Cassidy specifically alleged that certain phrases used in the protests, such as “long live the intifada” and “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, have caused harm to other members of the community despite being “justified as free speech” by protestors. The College has reportedly received over 40 bias complaints surrounding these phrases.
Cassidy stated that the College has begun preparations for graduation, despite the fact that the encampment remains on Merion Green even after the administration requested that it be moved. The email asks again that the encampment be cleared for commencement “not as a denial of suffering in the world, but as an expression of the fulfilment of personal and academic aspiration that also fuels human life”. One protestor interviewed by the Bi-Co News, who chose to stay anonymous for fear of harassment from fellow community members, said “I think all of it is just fluff to cover up inaction”.
As stated in an email from the President’s Office email on Thursday May 2nd, admin has begun the process to conduct a Dean’s Panel against student organizers.
Though it has previously been determined that the college “will not make a declaration in support of a cease-fire”, the President’s email noted that the college will focus on eduction surrounding the events in the Middle East through programmed led by faculty and “other campus resources”. In addition, she stated that college will not take a particular political position but will “support students who want to use their power to influence those who make U.S. policy and those who provide direct aid to those affected”. A protestor who gave a statement to the Bi-Co News mentions “political neutrality should be unthinkable in the face of a genocide and she is actually taking a political stance in support of investors; purposefully ignoring the rightful demands of her student body”.
In the final section of the email, Cassidy promises to provide education sessions on the college’s endowment and investments following the demand from the protestors that the college divest from Israeli companies. The sessions are to be open to the entire college community and aim to encourage “collaborative discussion”. In the appendix of the email, she reaffirmed the college’s stance that they are unable to divest due to the fact that it invests in strategies rather than individual securities” and that some investments are liquid.
Read the full email below:
