DePaul students decry president’s testimony, say antisemitism efforts silence Pro-Palestinian voices
DePaul students react to university president's testimony
About 50 DePaul students protested President Manuel’s remarks, claiming they silenced pro-Palestinian voices.
CHICAGO - Dozens of DePaul University students are voicing deep frustration in response to testimony delivered Wednesday by President Robert Manuel, who heads the private university.
What we know:
Following Manuel’s remarks on Capitol Hill, a group of Pro-Palestinian students and alumni gathered outside the DePaul University Student Center to express their outrage. They feel that in condemning antisemitism, the president is also suppressing their rights.
"This hearing was not about Jewish safety, it was about suppression of descent," said Ashley, a student.
During the rally, attended by about 50 people, security was heightened—with both campus safety personnel and Chicago police officers present.
"The administration has spent millions of dollars, students’ dollars, on a multi-stage repression campaign in response to minor property damage on the Quad," Ashley said.
The rally was organized by several groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine, which remains suspended on campus for its involvement in the 2024 campus encampment.
"We believe that fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be shared without fear of retribution is essential to fulfilling DePaul’s mission," said Jaricha Klinkner, mission & ministry liaison with the DePaul Student Government Association.
Organizers allege that the university has criminalized Palestinian students and attempted to block their ability to protest. They claim that officials also haven’t acknowledged the challenges and threats Palestinian students face.
"Not once since the start of this school year has Robert [Manuel] attempted to meet with any Palestinian students. Harvard University established a task force to combat anti-Muslim and anti-Arab discrimination but DePaul and Robert Manuel continue to sanction the only Palestinian-led activist groups on campus," said Olivia Zayed, a DePaul student.
Statement from DePaul :
In a statement, a university spokesperson said:
"At DePaul, we embrace academic freedom and free expression. We support and welcome dissent and debate. We will not condone any speech or expression in the classroom or anywhere at DePaul that serves only to threaten or intimidate members of our university community. We also require our community to adhere to DePaul’s Demonstration Guidelines. These guidelines provide clarity on how our students, faculty, and staff can safely and productively engage in demonstration activities while following DePaul’s policies and procedures.
"President Manuel is grateful for the opportunity to meet with our lawmakers and describe all that DePaul has done to confront antisemitism on campus. Throughout his testimony, he shared the actions DePaul has taken to strengthen and protect our community. Combating antisemitism requires vigilance, humility, and a commitment to continuous learning. We have implemented systemic changes designed to eliminate antisemitism at DePaul and affirm our values of safety, belonging, and shared responsibility. Some of these include implementing a new Identity Verification Policy, appointing a Special Advisor to the President on Jewish Engagement who will lead a university task force dedicated to combating antisemitism, and creating a Jewish alumni affinity group to build meaningful connections among Jewish graduates."
What's next:
President Manuel issued a letter to the campus community on Wednesday, writing that he condemns "all forms of hate."
During his testimony, Manuel explained that the university has also implemented an ‘Identity Verification Policy.’ Under the policy, if students are asked to identify themselves with a photo ID, they must comply.
Additionally, he explained that if their identity is obscured, campus security officers are permitted to ask students to remove their face coverings for the purpose of identification.
"Officers receive regular policy training to ensure it is administered fairly and consistently and will accommodate individual medical or religious needs. Refusal to comply can result in trespass, removal from campus, or disciplinary action," Manuel said during his remarks on Wednesday.