For many Bryn Mawr students, Saturday morning dawned sleepy and subdued. Not for Bryn Mawr Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). As the majority of campus was just rousing themselves from their beds, SJP had already set themselves up in front of Dalton Hall, sporting their usual black clothing, masks, and keffiyehs, and hanging up large cloth banners with slogans like “You can’t ignore the genocide” with the word genocide painted in red.
SJP organizer MR, who did not want to give their name for fear of retribution, explained that the group had decided to demonstrate in light of the Board of Trustees meeting slated for that morning in Dalton. The demonstration of choice was a “die-in”, where students laid themselves near the entrance and exit of Dalton Hall, acting as though they were dead.
In an effort to highlight the ongoing violence in occupied Palestinian territories, SJP played recordings from Gaza and the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank, which included sounds of gunshots and screams. MR said that the goal of the action, which occurred on Feb. 8, was to “make [the Board of Trustees] stop ignoring us.” She also pointed out that SJP had taken care not to block any of Dalton’s entrances and exits.
MR added that SJP “really just want[ed] the board to talk to us,” explaining that the plan was to hand members of the Board of Trustees slips of paper detailing SJP’s demands for Bryn Mawr administration as they left Saturday’s meeting.
SJP’s demands were as follows:
- Scholarships and financial assistance for Palestinian students.
- Dropping study abroad ties with Israeli universities, and College divestment from and transparency of any financial ties with companies with ties to Israel.
MR said that SJP is working with administration on the first two.
According to SJP organizer MM, who also requested anonymity, members of SJP reportedly discussed SJP’s demands and how to proceed with senior administration members for several hours while the die-in continued outside.
Around 1:30 p.m., the Board of Trustees exited Dalton, ignoring student demonstrators attempting to hand them fliers with SJP’s demands. MM also said that SJP is reportedly anticipating a meeting within the next two weeks with President Cadge and the Board of Trustees regarding their demands. According to MM, the upcoming meeting will address the ongoing demands for transparency and divestment of College funds from Israeli companies, given that members of administration have previously been open to meeting with members of SJP regarding the other demands.
Towards the end of the demonstration, members of SJP were seen handing out fliers stating “Wanted: Cynthia Archer,” with a picture of the board of trustees chair.
Regarding these fliers, MM stated “[Archer] and other members of upper administration and the Board of Trustees have avoided accountability to the student body, ignored repeated requests to meet, and demeaned student requests for endowment transparency”, and that SJP chose to make the fliers to “emphasize [SJP’s] frustration with the way the Trustees have evaded serious conversations about divestment.”
Bryn Mawr College has not responded to a request for comment.
EDIT 2/15/25
The Bi-Co News has since heard back from Bryn Mawr President Wendy Cadge. Regarding financial aid policies, President Cadge clarified that one student reached out to Chief Enrollment Officer Cheryl Lynn Horsey for more information on financial aid policies and was provided with such.
