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Victory at University of Rochester!
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February 7 – 11:10AM
Perhaps I should add that the agreement was signed minutes before midnight and no faced disciplinary actions. Security waited until we cleaned, packed, and walked out the door. The occupation was followed by a march to the library. Outside the library we chanted as loud as we could, in excitement but also to drown out 3 Zionists yelling who knows what at us! We entered the library and began to talk about what’s next for this in Rochester and how to spread this model of protest as far as we can.
February 7 – 2:00AM
VICTORY AT UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER!
The four statements that were drafted (read earlier post) were signed by the Dean of Student Affairs. The exact language of the statement will be sent out soon, but essentially the content of those statements, the University will move forward with.
This marks a first step in a divestment campaign at the University of Rochester and a model for student occupations against Israeli apartheid to learn from and gain inspiration from. The Dean of Student Affairs was shaking in his seat. This is the first of its kind occupation in this country on this issue and we won in under 9 hours! The administration of the University of Rochester can now be held accountable for signing the statement and can also be pushed further to ultimately get the university to divest from corporations that manufacture artillery, white phosphorus, bulldozers, and everything else that goes into the making of the apartheid. While they put up walls in regards to demanding aid and scholarships to Palestinians, the task now is to out smart them by learning the rules, the laws, and in what way we can work around them.
This is huge and many of us are still in awe of the victory and how quick the university acted when students mounted the pressure on them. Students from Students for a Democratic Society, the Campus Antiwar Network, the International Socialist Organization, Rochester Against War, Iraq Veterans Against the War and others really came together to help shape the direction of the negotiations that took place tonight. Thank you to everyone who called radio and TV stations, emailed other campuses and folks internationally. Thank you to everyone that provided food or extended a hand. Thank you to SDS who called this sit-in on their campuses and invited everyone to participate. Thank you to everyone at the occupation for showing the world what student power and democracy look like.
We feel proud of the step we’ve taken.
No justice. No peace.
- Adriano, TheSitch.com and the Campus Antiwar Network
February 6 – 11:55PM
The occupied building closes officially in 5 minutes. Negotiations are on going and a draft of our statements are being worked out and possibly signed on to by the Dean of Student Affairs.
We’ve been told that if we remain after midnight there will be repercussions the same way any other organization would to anyone that remained after closing hours.
February 6 – 11:28PM
Attempt to get negotiator to agree on these statements in order to have something concrete to declare a victory… for now. These are roughly the language of the statements:
1. University of Rochester will commit surplus goods to students in Gaza.
2. University of Rochester will commit resources and information to develop a Palestinian fund drive.
3. University of Rochester will commit to research ways to provide scholarships to Gaza strip students.
4. University of Rochester will commit to help organize a forum to expose or make transparent the investments of the university towards Israel.
February 6 – 11:13PM
Kyle B. on discussing demands.
February 6 – 10:17PM
Negotiations have begun.
February 6 – 9:45PM
Rhythms of the Occupation
Video Can Be Found Here
February 6 – 9:43PM
Angela S. Explains the latest on the occupation
February 6 – 8:20PM
Students have voted on adding one more demand, that community members, students, and University of Rochester employees not be penalized or charged with anything for occupying the building.
Administration will come back at 10:00PM tonight for negotiations.
February 6 – 6:30PM
The administration has approached the occupation trying to get us to move to a 24 hour building. Talks are ongoing. WE NEED EVERYONE TO SPREAD THIS TO MEDIA OUTLETS, ACTIVISTS GROUPS, RADIO STATIONS, MEDIA OUTLETS.
Here are some phone numbers:
RIT RADIO WITR – 585-475-2271
UR RADIO WRUR – (585) 275-9787
NBC Rochester – (585) 325-4444
CBS Rochester – (585) 288-8400
FOX Rochester – (585) 232-3700
SUNY Brockport Radio – 716-395-2580
SUNY Geneseo Radio – 716-245-5229
94.1 The Zone Radio – 716-399-5700
February 6 – 4:00PM
After arriving at the University of Rochester, 40 or so students, activists, and community members began to occupy the Goergen Building. We entered an auditorium in the building for a discussion on the reasoning behind the occupation, including debate on:
- two state vs. one state solution
- history of zionism
- solidarity with British occupation
- UN resolutions that Israel and US always veto
- Source of Hamas’ weapons
- schedule for the occupation and more.
The university is trying to divide us by requesting that non-UR students leave at midnite (when the building officially closes). Solidarity presently consists of RIT CAN, UR and Rochester SDS, IVAW, Rochester Against War, and some more that I can’t name off the top of my head. 
February 6 – 10:04AM
The University of Rochester (UofR) after receiving the demands has started to say that occupiers cannot stay overnight in the brand new Goergen BME Building. They’ve suggested one of the 24 hour libraries. SDS will begin to occupy at noon; activists and community members are asked to come at 3PM. Unless demands are met the occupation will continue. More updates when the occupation begins. Read about the New School occupation and the 16 occupations in England that inspired today’s: The New School in Exile 16 Occupations in England
University of Rochester SDS Has Called For A Sit-In
Their demands:
1. Divestment: We demand the University of Rochester to adopt the “UR-Peaceful Investing Initiative” which institutes a peaceful investment policy to the university’s endowment which includes divestment from corporations that manufacturer weapons and profit from war. (For example, the U of R invests in General Dynamics which manufactures weapons to maintain a 41-year occupation of the Palestinian territories and wars which slaughter Palestinian civilians by the 100s)
2.Humanitarian aid: We demand that the University of Rochester commit to a day of fundraising for humanitarian aid in Gaza within the next two weeks, as part of an ongoing commitment to provide financial support for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
3. Academic aid: We demand that the University of Rochester twin with the devastated Gaza University and provide the necessary academic aid (e.g., recycled computers, books, etc. ).
4. Scholarships: We demand that the University of Rochester grant a minimum of five scholarships to Palestinian students every year.
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