A group of more than 30 students, whose faces were covered by keffiyehs, masks, and sunglasses, protested outside of Dalton Hall this morning as Bryn Mawr’s board of trustees held their bi-semesterly meeting.
The protesters, who denied any association with the now-suspended Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group, voiced their opposition to the meeting with bullhorns from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The purpose of the protest, as made clear in the chants, was to encourage Bryn Mawr to divest the $5 million it has invested in Israeli tech start-up companies. Bryn Mawr has previously stated that none of the investments are tied to the Israeli military.
A group of individuals were visible sitting on the third-floor of Dalton, where bottom to top window panes allowed protesters as well as passersby to see them clearly. Around three campus safety officers were present, as well as multiple private-security officers from Mainline Security, who guarded the front and back entrances of Dalton. In addition, at least two Lower Merion Police cars were parked near Arnecliffe. An anonymous source familiar with the situation informed the Bi-Co News that campus safety did not call Lower Merion Police, and that their presence was unexpected.
Mainline Security has been hired by Bryn Mawr for the rest of the spring semester. In a comment to the Bi-Co News, Samara Sit, Bryn Mawr’s Chief Communication’s officer, said that “The Office of Campus Safety has contracted with an external security firm, Main Line Protection, to provide additional security coverage for the multiple special campus events planned for late April and May. Campus Safety has brought in additional support as needed for many years to ensure our campus events are safe and enjoyable experiences for all participants. These individual personnel are identifiable by work shirts displaying the name of their company.”
Tensions have continued to rise on campus following the interim-suspension of Bryn Mawr’s SJP chapter as well as Bi-Co Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP). In an email from Bryn Mawr President Wendy Cadge, SJP and JVP were condemned for disrupting an admitted-students event which was held in Goodhart Hall.
“I think it’s important to show up for the people who are putting in the work,” said one student protester, who requested to maintain anonymous due to fear of retribution from the administration. “It feels discouraging that they [those inside of Dalton] are sitting up there laughing.”
In comments to the Bi-Co News, multiple students allege that at least one official walked close enough up to the protest to get a recording of each face, including those that were covered and unidentifiable.
Throughout the protests, students said varying chants to call attention to their cause.
Near the end of the event, students cheered “we will honor all our martyrs, all our children’s, sons, and daughters.” One protester, who held a bullhorn, brought up Israel’s ongoing assault of the Gaza strip in comparison to the “board of trustees [meeting] to discuss our stupid fucking finances,” highlighting what they claim is indifference from Bryn Mawr in the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
This is an ongoing story. Updates will be added as comments are made.
CORRECTION: This article previously implied that the only people within Dalton were members of the board of trustees. This is not true. Faculty and administration were present as well.
