Vancouver Island University will not punish students for participating in a pro-Palestinian encampment, its president said Friday.
Protesters set up the encampment on May 1, asking that the university call for a ceasefire and issue a statement “acknowledging the genocide of Palestinians.”
Other demands included disclosing university investments linked to Israel, removing Starbucks — which has become a popular boycott target for pro-Palestinian protesters — from campus, and a commitment to no disciplinary action for students involved in the protest.
VIU president Deborah Saucier said the university has not taken any punitive action toward any member of the campus community for participating in the encampment and has no plans to do so.
Saucier said VIU “joins the global call for a ceasefire and an end to the violence in the Middle East.”
A letter delivered to the encampment by campus security on May 2 had warned students they could face arrests and expulsions for their participation.
Prior to Saucier’s comments, protesters said talks were at an impasse because VIU refused to retract the letter, which also threatened prohibition from graduation for students involved with the encampment.