Members of the Board of Trustees listen to speakers during the public comments section of the meeting on March 12, 2024. People gathered outside of the Ford Alumni Center for a rally before the University of Oregon Board of Trustees meeting, where some spoke during the public comments section alongside other students and community members, with topics ranging from proposed “Boycott, Divest, Sanction” strategies, to Jewish students feeling unsafe due to protests and demonstrations on campus. (Alex Hernandez/Emerald)
Pro-Palestine students and faculty asked the UO Board of Trustees to “pressure” the university to divest from companies associated with Israel and criticized UO President John Karl Scholz for his position regarding the Israel-Hamas war at the board’s June 4 meeting.
Speakers criticized the nature of UO’s investments and demanded that the UO foundation divest from companies that have financial ties with Israel. These companies include Hewlett-Packard and Boeing which are alleged to have financial relations with the Israeli military. Both companies are subjects of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement, a form of “non-violent pressure on Israel.”
Salem Younes, a co-leader of UO Students for Justice in Palestine, said the university has “failed” its students and “only cares about money.”
One speaker alleged that the Office of the President published a copy of the agreement made with the UO Coalition for Palestine to end the pro-Palestine encampment, which was different from the actual one agreed upon.
On May 23, an agreement was reached between the UO and UO Coalition for Palestine to end the encampment occurring on campus. Terms included in the agreement were that the university create a working group for ethical investment, bring visiting scholars to offer courses on Israel and Palestine, offer scholarships to students displaced by the war in Gaza and a presidential statement on a ceasefire. After the agreement was signed, encampment materials were removed from Johnson Hall that evening.
The speaker accused Scholz of removing a direct reference to “death and destruction in Palestine” in the agreement and replacing it with the term “Middle East.”
They demanded that Scholz publish the original ceasefire statement that was allegedly decided upon during encampment negotiation meetings.
Another speaker criticized Scholz’s comments that he made during his investiture ceremony, which was disrupted by pro-Palestine protesters and forced to move online. Scholz, referencing that he had been handed a “heavy mace,” said that he gets “fired up” about interruptions. Some students perceived Scholz’s comments as a threat of physical violence against student protesters, which UO spokesperson Eric Howald clarified that Scholz was referring to a ceremonial mace and his remarks were made with the intention of lightening up the environment.
The board meeting was held at the Giustina Ballroom in the Ford Alumni Center. A security tent was set up at the entrance with signs detailing prohibited items and informing entrants that government or UO identification would be required. Photos were taken of each individual’s ID before they were allowed to enter the building.
20 individuals spoke during the public comment period, and speakers were limited to two minutes.
There was a capacity of 70 people in the public seating area of the ballroom, according to UO spokesperson Eric Howald.
Several UO Police Department officers and campus security as well as private security members were seen both throughout the building and outside.
Public comment ended without disruption after approximately one hour.
At the conclusion of the public comment period, UO Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Holwerda told the crowd he “appreciated” the way they conducted themselves. The majority of the speakers exited the room, followed by a 10-minute recess. After the recess the meeting went on as scheduled.
