Dear students,
I write to update you about the brief takeover of Clio Hall yesterday afternoon.
This incident represented an escalation by protestors into unlawful behavior that created a dangerous situation for protestors, University staff, and law enforcement. As protestors entered Clio Hall, our staff found themselves surrounded, yelled at, threatened, and ultimately ordered out of the building.
Princeton staff serve the teaching and research mission of the University by providing support that makes the work of faculty and students possible. The way they were treated yesterday was abusive.
As President Eisgruber said in his message to the campus last night, this kind of behavior is completely unacceptable and will be addressed through both our disciplinary processes and through the criminal justice system.
Here’s what I can tell you about what will happen next:
The five undergraduate seniors and six graduate students who were arrested yesterday in Clio Hall are barred from campus. They now face a University disciplinary process that may lead to suspension, the withholding of degrees, or expulsion. While the disciplinary process will proceed promptly and in accordance with University policy, we do not expect that it can be completed before Commencement. Given the egregious nature of their conduct, they are also likely to face serious criminal charges.
The Department of Public Safety is investigating others who participated in yesterday’s disruption and more criminal charges may be forthcoming, along with additional University discipline. The University will not ask the prosecutor to drop any criminal charges brought against members of our community or outsiders.
We will continue to provide unwavering support for the expansive rights of academic freedom and free expression–including protest–this University guarantees its students and faculty. We venerate the free speech that is essential to our scholarly mission. But these guarantees rely upon our community’s willingness to comply with the University’s time, place, and manner regulations. They do not extend to the violation of our rules or of the law.
Yesterday’s disruption does not reflect the values and character of the Princeton community, which has repeatedly shown itself capable of engaging civilly on the most contentious topics in ways that embody respect for everyone who studies and works here.
Thank you for your continued support of our values.
VP Calhoun
Rochelle Calhoun, Vice President for Campus Life