URBANA, Ill. (WAND) — University of Illinois officials say they will not meet with representatives of the students demonstrating in support of Palestine until unauthorized tents are removed from the quad.
Protesting students are on the south side of the main quad with tents and other structures.
The encampment is part of a nationwide trend of protests taking part on dozens of college campuses. Students at the U of I are calling for the university to divest from companies that support Israel or produce weapons used in the conflict in Gaza, acknowledge the loss of life in Palestine, and create a committee to address Arab and Muslim student affairs.
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According to Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler, Chancellor Robert Jones and President Tim Killeen offered to meet with student representatives on Sunday night provided the demonstrators remove the tents from the quad. Kaler said that students refused the offer.
A Monday meeting was planned between students and Vice Chancellors Danita Brown Young and Sean Garrick with Executive Vice Provost Bill Bernhard "on the condition that demonstrators would be able to protest as long as there are no laws and university policies being violated." That meeting was cancelled when students refused to remove the tents.
Students on the quad told WAND News that they will not consider removing tents until university officials meet with their representatives.
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