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NYU suspends pro-Gazan students following protest

By Jacob Berkman · February 22, 2009

NEW YORK (JTA) -- New York University suspended dozens of students who barricaded themselves in a dining hall with demands that included the school support the residents of Gaza.

About 70 members of Take Baacck NYU, the group behind the demonstration, barricaded themselves inside the Kimmel Student Center with a megaphone and a list of demands starting on the night of Feb. 18.

The last protesters left the building on the afternoon of Feb. 20, apparently after agreeing to leave on promises from university officials to begin negotiations. Scuffles reportedly broke out early that morning as hundreds of students gathered outside the student center banging drums and chanting in support of those inside. One person was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Devitt said protesters broke a door lock and injured a security officer.

Their demands included that the university give 13 scholarships to students from Gaza and donate surplus supplies to the Islamic University of Gaza, which was damaged by airstrikes during last month's Israeli offensive against Hamas.

University officials did not accede to any of the group's demands, which also included calls for student representation on the school's board of trustees and greater disclosure of budgets and endowment investments.

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