Message from President Cudd Regarding PSU's Offer to Protesters
May 1, 2024
10:20 a.m.
Dear Campus Community,
I have an update to share regarding the protest at the Branford Price Millar Library and our shared wish for a peaceful resolution.
Around midnight last night, negotiators for the PSU students occupying the library provided verbal assurance that they would sign a memorandum of agreement with me to vacate the library by 1:30 AM on May 1. In exchange, we offered to guarantee no expulsion, suspension or change to their status and that the university would not file criminal charges. In return, the students agreed to refrain from violating student codes of conduct as they continue to exercise their full rights to free speech on campus.
In addition, I personally agreed to support faculty efforts to include scholarship and creative works related to Palestine in PSU’s Race and Ethnic Studies Requirement, PSU’s ongoing financial commitment to anti-racist work, a personal donation to the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (MENASA) Student Center at Portland State.
PSU and will continue to fund anti-racist efforts. Finally, I agreed to meet with student leaders on May 17 in the afternoon about the remaining concerns of the protest to continue our dialogue on how Portland State can continue to advance the interests of peace and humanity in our world.
I fervently wish that the students in the library had signed on to our agreement, but, after their negotiators told us they had a deal, they apparently chose not to sign.
Approximately 50 students left of their own accord and I thank them and other students who have worked to de-escalate the protest.
I am grateful to my colleagues, Vice President for Global Diversity and Inclusion Ame Lambert, Interim Provost Shelly Chabon and General Counsel Cindy Starke for assisting with these negotiations, in addition to members or our faculty.
Many of us have seen the vandalism to our library and while the cost of property damage cannot compare to the cost of human lives, this destructive protest is weighing heavily on our campus community who collectively pay for our facilities and expect and deserve to use them in a setting that is welcoming to all students. We have no control over what happens in the Middle East; we do have control over how we treat each other.
It is our understanding that there are also a number of non-students who remain in the library as part of the protest. I continue to hope for a peaceful resolution and I offer my thanks to the entire PSU community for continuing to care for one another. We are actively planning today for a return to classes and regular university operations as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Ann Cudd
PSU President