Protest encampment: Reaffirming Monday's principles

Dear Williams students, faculty and staff,

Early this morning, a group of students set up an encampment on the Williams Quad. They have communicated demands that the college commit to “Implement increased transparency and ethical practices across the college’s financial strategy,” and “Divest the college’s endowment from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel.”

The encampment was expected, so I am writing primarily to reaffirm what I said in Monday’s campus email: “students are entitled to assemble and voice their views and concerns. This includes through encampments, which in and of themselves do not violate any college rule… We expect any student who uses their voice to do so within the broad guardrails of the Williams Code of Conduct.” In short, the student participants enjoy the same protections, and are subject to the same rules, as all students.

The Williams community is diverse, made up of thousands of people, each with our own identities, views and beliefs. Our college, and our democracy, thrive on open, respectful exchange across all of those differences. Whatever your opinion on events in Israel and Palestine, you are equally welcome here and equally encouraged to participate in our culture of exchange. I hope and believe that we can demonstrate ways to protest and debate without losing sight of our shared humanity.

Maud