After its start May 1, the Palestine Solidarity Encampment still stands on the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Nanaimo campus.
The encampment was started in solidarity with Palestinian people and to demand action from the university.
The day after the encampment was started, students were notified by the university that if the encampment was to stay, students could face academic repercussions. As well, the hours to access the library would be changed only letting those with student or employee IDs access the building at certain times.
In a letter from VIU’s President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Saucier sent May 17, she wrote that although VIU supports peaceful demonstrations on its campuses and the freedom of expression, she is troubled by the “increasing number of concerns, harassment, and other complaints to VIU and WorkSafeBC.”
Groups on campus have come out in support of the students’ rights to protest, including over 105 staff and faculty members, and the VIU Students’ Union.
