This page was established on May 7 and was shared in a President's message to students, faculty, and staff. This page is updated to reflect ongoing outreach.

This document provides information related to the university's engagement and ongoing negotiation with the student demonstration established on Memorial Quad on Monday, April 29th. 

The UO has a long tradition of responding to demonstrations with engagement, listening, and dialogue, in hopes of achieving a peaceful resolution. University leaders have been in regular communication with the students engaged in the current demonstration since the first day of the encampment. Our chief concern is the physical safety and well-being of the community, which has been repeated at every interaction with the encampment representatives.

To date, we have provided those in the encampment with information on our policies and given them notice of which policies they are violating. We have also created an avenue for communicating with the administration.

We have also been in near-daily efforts to negotiate in good faith toward a clear and peaceful removal of the present camp, which is in violation of several policies, creates safety concerns for both those demonstrating and for others on campus, and presents a significant drain on resources that are intended to support the operations and broader community of our university. These efforts have included multiple informal conversations and active negotiations, including substantive responses aimed at resolution.

Thursday, May 23

• President Scholz issues a statement outlining the details of the agreement.

Wednesday, May 22, approximately 8:00 p.m.

• Student demonstrators and university leadership reach agreement. 

Sunday, May 19

• A small group of faculty begins to meet with student demonstrators.

Friday, May 17

• University Senate and UO Administration agreed to explore an additional process of dialogue with student demonstrators, engaging several members of faculty and staff. Dialogue initiated.

Friday, May 10

• UO Negotiating Team arrived for meeting in designated space using established ground rules.
• Encampment representatives did not attend.

Thursday, May 9

• UO Negotiating Team met with encampment representatives and presented UO response to demands. 
• Encampment representatives requested negotiations take place in public form, contrary to agreed-upon ground rules. 

Wednesday, May 8

• UO Negotiating team offered to meet with encampment representatives on Thursday May 9 at 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, May 7

• UO Negotiation Team met with encampment representatives.
• Encampment representatives reiterated demands for divestment and request for statement on calling for a ceasefire and condemnation of genocide.
• Encampment representatives provided no plans for an end to overnight camping.
• Encampment representatives held rally at 10:30 a.m.
• Amnesty for conduct violations expired at noon.

Monday, May 6

• UO Negotiation Team met with encampment representatives. UO shared the written summary of the response to demands.
• Encampment representatives were not satisfied with the additional information provided about the UO’s offer.
• UO’s offer indicated that conduct amnesty would be revoked at noon on Tuesday. Protesters asked for an additional 24 hours, which would move the revocation to Wednesday at noon.
• UO Negotiation Team member followed up via email with encampment representatives to communicate that UO would extend amnesty for conduct violations to Wednesday, May 8 at 12 noon, as they requested, provided they brought a plan for ending the overnight encampment no later than the Tuesday, May 7, 10 a.m. meeting.
• It was noted that any plan for ending overnight encampment must be in accordance with the outline the UO Negotiation Team shared today - (1) no further overnight camping, (2) recognized student groups reserve space for further gathering during daytime hours (8 a.m. to 7 p.m.) through appropriate channels, and (3) participants follow standard rules on use of amplification and other guidelines for assembly. It was also articulated that if no such plan to cease overnight camping was provided by encampment representatives in the Tuesday, May 7 morning meeting, the amnesty would expire on May 7, 12 noon.

Saturday, May 4

• UO Negotiation Team met with encampment representatives.
• Encampment representatives stated their group unanimously declined UO's request and were unwilling to cease overnight camping. The protestors did not discuss alternative proposals.
• Encampment representatives asked UO for additional notes on UO’s offer.
• UO Negotiation Team notified encampment representatives that the offer of amnesty will expire.

Friday, May 3

• UO Negotiation Team met with encampment representatives and verbally reiterated the request for students to cease overnight camping and use established means to share their concerns.
• UO Negotiation Team presented verbal offer of movement on several of the group’s demands. Team confirmed UO would not move forward on conduct violations if the camp was dispersed.
• The encampment representatives stated they needed more time for the whole group to consider. Both groups highlighted safety concerns caused by encampment.

Thursday, May 2

• UO Negotiation Team¹ met with encampment representatives to negotiate for a peaceful de-encampment. Discussions began with each side identifying potential ground rules, and encampment representatives were asked to consider shifting from an overnight camp to daytime-protest only.

Wednesday, May 1

• Demonstration Education and Safety Team engaged the encampment in the morning to offer a meeting that afternoon to begin a dialogue and set a path forward.
• Demonstration Education and Safety Team returned to the encampment at 2:00 p.m. to determine whether the later afternoon meeting would work.
• Encampment representatives indicated that they had extensive programming and were too busy to meet. They offered to meet on Thursday.
• Karl Scholz issued a statement to the community that included UO position on divestment and academic boycotts, affirming that UO would not take action to divest or consider academic boycotts of Israeli higher education institutions.

Tuesday, April 30

• Demonstration Education and Safety Team engaged the encampment to let them know that the previous reservation conflict for the space on Friday, May 3rd, had changed locations, but that another reservation existed for May 5, for the ASUO Street Faire. They also confirmed that the students had received copies of the policies the previous day.
• Encampment representatives indicated that they had created a negotiation team and were willing to meet with the university.

Monday, April 29

• Staff from the University Fire Marshal's Office spoke with individuals on site to reinforce safety rules including use of open flame.
• Demonstration Education and Safety Team from Student Life and Safety & Risk Services engaged the encampment to share the following: safety is our top concern, camping is prohibited, and the space is reservable and had not been reserved through the proper channels.
• Demonstration Education and Safety Team engaged the encampment to deliver paper copies of relevant policies. The policies/procedures delivered included the Proscribed Conduct Policy (camping), Facilities Scheduling Policy, Student Conduct Code, and Scheduling & Events Procedures. Key portions were highlighted.

¹Negotiation Team includes staff and faculty from: The Provost’s Office, Safety & Risk Services and Student Life, and Division of Global Engagement.