{"id":138764,"date":"2023-12-10T17:46:29","date_gmt":"2023-12-10T22:46:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=138764"},"modified":"2023-12-10T17:46:29","modified_gmt":"2023-12-10T22:46:29","slug":"philly-area-pro-palestinian-college-students-engage-in-sit-ins-wont-leave-until-demands-met","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/philly-area-pro-palestinian-college-students-engage-in-sit-ins-wont-leave-until-demands-met\/","title":{"rendered":"Philly-area pro-Palestinian college students engage in sit-ins, won’t leave until demands met"},"content":{"rendered":"

Want ‘academic leniency’ for the those ‘affected’ by the Gaza war<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Pro-Palestinian students at the Philadelphia-adjacent Swarthmore and Haverford Colleges are currently engaged in sit-ins at administrative buildings, with those at the former saying they won’t leave until their demands are met.<\/p>\n

The Philadelphia Inquirer<\/em><\/a> reports Swarthmore President Valerie Smith’s office building currently is home to roughly 50 protesters who claim<\/a> that, as a Quaker institution, the school “has the moral obligation” to side with the Palestinians against Israel’s “genocide.”<\/p>\n

The so-called Swarthmore Palestine Coalition, a coalition of 29 student groups according to The Phoenix<\/a><\/em>, wants President Smith to “condemn Israeli aggression,” “express solidarity with the Palestinian people and Arab, Muslim, and Brown students,” and “mourn the thousands of Palestinians murdered in Gaza.”<\/p>\n

The SPC also is demanding a boycott and divestment of Israel in accordance with a 2019 student government resolution<\/a>, and blanket “protection” from any campus disciplinary measures — especially given the SPC is comprised predominately of first year\/low income students and students of color.<\/p>\n

“Swarthmore College must drop all disciplinary actions against students for organizing in solidarity with Palestine and refrain from issuing similar disciplinary penalties going forward,” the group declared.<\/p>\n

Swarthmore Assistant Vice President of Communications Alisa Giardinelli noted that some students, both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel who “may have violated the college\u2019s conduct,” received disciplinary warning letters — and only after they’d spoken with school officials who “attempted to discourage them from further violations.”<\/p>\n

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Earlier today, students at Haverford College were staging their own sit in in Founders Hall. <\/p>\n

They're demanding the college publicly endorse a cease-fire in Gaza, and will continue protests through "next semester" if needed. pic.twitter.com\/brEAiaGcpd<\/a><\/p>\n

— Jesse Bunch (@JesseBunch_) December 8, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n