Northwestern University protesters began taking down their tent encampment after they reached a deal with the university Monday morning to stop the demonstration in exchange for university compromises.
The deal is believed to be the first of its kind between pro-Palestinian protesters and a university among the recent wave of demonstrations on college campuses.
Northwestern, a private university outside of Chicago, struck a deal Monday with student and faculty protesters, five days after protesters set up an encampment on campus.
“This agreement was forged by the hard work of students and faculty working closely with members of the administration to help ensure that the violence and escalation we have seen elsewhere does not happen here at Northwestern,” Northwestern President Michael Schill said.
The deal allows protests to continue until June 1. However, all tents and sound speakers were ordered to come down immediately with one aid tent allowed to stay upright. According to the student newspaper, the Daily Northwestern, the demonstrators began taking the encampment down at about 3 p.m. on Monday. However, flags and other supplies remained on Tuesday.
The agreement also requires that only students and faculty protest on campus, no outsiders, and that those protesters adhere to university guidelines moving forward. The Anti-Defamation League called the agreement “reprehensible” and “dangerous.”
Northwestern operates on a quarter system, so the June deadline is still a part of its school year. June 1 is the last day of class in the Spring semester, and final exams will run until June 7.
The university also agreed to fund two visiting Palestinian faculty members, as well as provide five scholarships to Palestinian students for the entirety of their undergraduate careers. The university also agreed to renovate a community building to use as a space for Middle Eastern, North African, and Muslim students. It is expected to be completed by 2026.
According to the student newspaper, some protesters depicted Schill, who is Jewish, with devil horns, which is condemned as an antisemitic trope. The Star of David was also seen on campus with a red slash through it, as well as “Death 2 Israel” spray painted on a campus building.
“Like other universities, we have seen a rise in antisemitism,” Schill said. “This sort of thing needs to be condemned by all of us.”
The university also agreed to reinstate the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility in the fall semester. Because Northwestern is a private institution, it is not required to disclose detailed financial statements.
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“As a student movement that is composed of direct stakeholders in this institution, we are exercising power where we hold it,” the Northwestern University Divestment Coalition said in a statement.
“We have built a strong foundation of our work and for generations of NU activists to come. We have seen incredible momentum grow in support of our movement in these past few days and will not let it go to waste. We consider this to be a prime moment to take stock, recharge, plan, and build power,” the statement continued.