Drexel's University City Campus to Begin Phased Return to Normal Operations

Dear Drexel Colleagues and Students,

I am writing to update you on both the University's institutional response to the unauthorized pro-Palestinian encampment on Korman Quad, and on plans for returning the University City campus to normal operations.

Here is where matters stand. After conferring with Chief Singleton and his Drexel Public Safety team, I have determined that we have sufficient security in place to begin a phased return to normal operations. Tomorrow, labs, studio classes and simulation classes will return to being in-person, while lecture classes will remain virtual. Students should confirm with their faculty member if they have any questions. We also will continue virtual operations for all nonessential personnel through tomorrow. Anyone with questions about working remotely should contact their supervisor. Faculty and professional staff for labs and studios will be considered essential, while researchers engaged in critical activity that requires in-person work will be allowed access to campus with approval from their dean or division head.

Now to the matter of the encampment itself. Drexel University safeguards free speech and recognizes the right to peaceful protest, even when such protest features the expression of views that many members of our community might consider objectionable. At the same time, the University has the right both to impose restrictions on any demonstration that disrupts normal operations or creates a threatening, unsafe environment for other members of our community, and to take action against illegal trespassing.

While reportedly peaceful and respectful of passersby for long stretches of time, this demonstration already has proved extensively disruptive to normal operations. It has forced the cancellation of numerous campus events and placed added strain on our Drexel Public Safety officers, who have been redeployed both to ensure the safety of protesters and passersby and to prevent unauthorized entry into our buildings and facilities. It also compelled us to move to remote learning and operations today.

Worse, it has become increasingly clear that encampment protesters have created a hostile, confrontational environment by subjecting passersby to antisemitic speech and by issuing several "demands" that have unacceptably targeted individual members of our faculty and professional staff, a member of our Real Estate Advisory Committee, and two Jewish campus organizations (Hillel and Chabad).

As we begin returning to in-person activities tomorrow, I want to remind members of the community to report any intrusions by demonstrators into labs, studios, and other learning and event spaces by calling the Drexel Public Safety Emergency Center at 215.895.2222 or dialing 911, or contacting Public Safety via the Guardian app.

And I repeat: This encampment cannot be allowed to remain in place. I call on protesters to disband the encampment on their own immediately. In any event it is paramount that the encampment is removed so that every member of our community is free to move safely across the campus without threat of intimidation or harassment.

In authorizing all necessary steps to clear the encampment safely, I have not lost sight of the need to bridge the deep division within our community over the war in Gaza. This protest already has elicited intense emotional reactions from our community and beyond. Some have registered their strong support for the protestors and condemned the University's response as heavy-handed. Others are upset with us for not removing the encampment right away.

As a community of scholars and problem solvers, we must create spaces to listen to one another and learn from one another. So I look forward to the day after the encampment has been removed when we all can come together to utilize our teaching, research, and civic work toward making a real contribution toward fostering civil discourse and mutual understanding within our community.

Sincerely,

John Fry
President