To our alumni and friends:
I write today with information on the encampment and protest activities that have taken place at Case Western Reserve University over the past 11 days and, as of this morning, are no longer occurring on our campus. It has been a difficult time, and I hope this message assuages any concerns you may have.
I think it is important to acknowledge that the Israel-Hamas war, on which the protest centered, is a complex, often personal issue about which many in our university community feel passionately, and the devastating loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives should be a distress we all share.
I also want to unequivocally note that freedom of expression and diversity of ideas are hallmarks of higher education, and they are what make our institution in particular such a rich, rewarding place to learn, live and work—as our alumni know firsthand. I remain committed to the critical importance of the free exchange of ideas on our campus, but those rights must always be balanced with the safety of our entire community, as our freedom of expression policy clearly states.
Since the protest began on April 29—and following my initial communication, and subsequent warnings, that the protest was no longer permitted and sanctions and/or legal charges will be invoked for those who continued—we saw language and behavior escalate. This included vandalism, limiting access to university buildings, and threats to disrupt commencement. None of this behavior is acceptable, nor does it contribute to the safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for which Case Western Reserve is known.
This morning, I shared with our students, faculty and staff that protesters voluntarily left university property. The protesters leaving of their own accord is a good outcome, but I want to reiterate that any student, faculty or staff member who is found to have violated the university’s policies will be held accountable through the relevant conduct processes, which we have initiated.
Now, as we look forward to commencement, our facilities staff are working to restore the damage done to these locations, and individuals across the university are determining how we can ensure next week’s events remain centered on the incredible achievements of those students who will soon join our alumni ranks.
I want to thank everyone who has reached out to share their feedback on what has occurred on campus recently; if you would like additional information, you can review the university’s statements online.
Sincerely,
Eric W. Kaler
President