UR Occupation Ends: Students Negotiate with Administration and Declare Victory

Just before midnight in the last few minutes of February 6, the occupation and sit-in of the Goergen Biomedical and Engineering building at the University of Rochester organized by UR Students for a Democratic Society ended in what students and supporters (1 | 2) are calling a victory.

According to the UR-SDS occupation blog, students and community members, “…spoke for peace and solidarity with the Palestinians and we were heard. UR-SDS and friends declared victory to our occupation just before midnight Friday when we signed a joint statement of understanding/plan of action with [College Dean of Students Matthew Burns] where we found common ground on addressing our demands in a substantive manner.”

Throughout the day, hundreds of students entered the building engaging in discussion and offering solidarity. A group of over 75 people stayed throughout the evening until negotiations concluded with at least 50 people vowing to spend the night and face the consequences if the university failed to negotiate with them.

While the efforts and intentions of the students and community members should be applauded, it has yet to be determined if the document signed will actually lead to substantial change within the university or if the students will have to take greater risks to get results if the administration defaults on its modest promises.

Indymedia Coverage: UR-SDS Occupies University of Rochester in Solidarity with People of Gaza | Gaza Solidarity in Rochester and Western NY | Worldwide Protests Escalate in Response to Israel's Ground War on Gaza | Gaza Massacre: actions and information

Video: IndyTV: U of R SDS Sit in for Gaza | Interview with SDS member after a discussion with the dean of students
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Additional Information: CounterPunch: At a Campus Sit-In Against Israeli Occupation | UR-SDS Declares Victory in less than 9 hours | UR-SDS Occupation blog | The Sitch's Occupation blog | Local Media Coverage | Civil obedience in Rochester- the story of the "occupation" | RiseUpRochester.org: Hate in the Tunnel at the University of Rochester | Glasgow University Goes Under Occupation!