Protests calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war continue to take up headlines nationwide as many have resulted in the arrest and suspension of students.
There have been arrests at over 40 college campuses around the country, including Washington University in St. Louis.
University of Missouri (MU) Chancellor Mun Choi sent an email to the campus community this week outlining what students are and aren’t allowed to do.
On Monday, Mizzou Students for Justice in Palestine organized a peaceful protest which started on Lowry Mall and made its way around the Francis Quadrangle, to the front of Jesse Hall.
MU spokesperson Christian Basi said the university worked with the student groups ahead of time to plan the protest.
“We were able to work with them very easily, explain the various policies that would apply to their event, and it helped us have a great conversation to make sure they would get their event off safely,” Basi said.
In accordance with Columbia city ordinance, protestors kept to the sidewalks and were monitored by peacekeepers, individuals tasked with making sure the protests stay safe.
Basi said the university learned a lot from previous demonstrations and protests, like the #ConcernedStudent1950 protests in 2015.
He said the university made policy changes, heavily enforcing a ban of camping on campus grounds, which previously wasn’t enforced. Basi also said the university made procedural changes, focusing on establishing an open line of communication between the university and event organizers.
The university said it does not take a side in the Israel-Hamas conflict or a say on incidents at other campuses, and that the university is only focused on making sure demonstrations remain safe.
“We would never comment on what’s going wrong at other universities,” Basi said. “We feel that when you talk about the peaceful protest here, that was the result of good relationships.”
At the MU protest, four students stood silently and held an Israeli flag and a photo of a past Hamas hostage.
When asked how the university would plan in the case of escalated reactions, Basi said the university would put its trust in law enforcement.
