Northwestern University announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with anti-Israel protesters, leading to condemnation from the Anti-Defamation League, which called the agreement “reprehensible” and “dangerous.”
The university’s agreement with protesters allows protests to continue through June 1, with no tents permitted, except for an “aid tent,” and only faculty, students, and staff being allowed to participate. It also requires the university to “publicly condemn the doxing of any community member and will advise employers not to rescind job offers for students engaging in speech protected by the First Amendment.”
While the university did not agree to divest from Israel, as had been demanded by protesters, it will reestablish the Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility with student, faculty, and staff representation.
“This agreement also addresses our commitment to protect the safety of our entire community and to ensure the ongoing academic operations of our campus while adhering to our support for free expression,” the university said in a statement about the agreement. “The agreement includes support for our Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students. Some of the actions have been discussed for years and some are new. Together, they will strengthen our community.”
Protests on various college campuses, including Northwestern, have come under scrutiny for creating a hostile environment for Jewish students on campus. The agreement at the Illinois school garnered condemnation from the ADL through its Midwest branch.
The agreement between @NorthwesternU leadership and encampment protesters is reprehensible, dangerous, and a case study in failed leadership. Our full statement: pic.twitter.com/nJUuFyVpGL
— ADL Midwest (@ADLMidwest) April 29, 2024
“This agreement between Northwestern University leadership and encampment protesters is reprehensible, dangerous, and a case study in failed leadership. For days, protesters violated campus codes of conduct and policies, intentionally fanned the flames of hate and antisemitism, and wreaked havoc on campus life. Instead of holding the perpetrators accountable, the university rewarded them. It would be unbelievable if it wasn’t true,” the statement said.
The group also asked what the university has done for Jewish students with the agreement and how they benefit from the accord.
“What commitments did the protesters make to stop celebrating violence against Jews and spreading antisemitic tropes? What steps will Northwestern take to hold professors and teaching assistants responsible for violating university policies and spreading hateful lies, ginning up antisemitism on campus, and creating a dangerous environment for Jewish students?” the statement said.
The ADL said the encampment is only the most recent example of antisemitism at the university, with the environment at Northwestern becoming “increasingly hostile toward Jewish students. This didn’t start last week or even last year, but it exploded and intensified on 10/7.”
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The group also downgraded the university to an “F” rating for its antisemitism Campus Report Card.
Northwestern’s agreement comes as Columbia University officials said they were unable to come to an agreement with anti-Israel protesters and began issuing suspensions for students not complying with the 2 p.m. dispersion deadline for the encampment.
