The occupation of the lecture hall on December 14, 2023, began at 11:30 a.m., at which point only a handful of students were in attendance. The participants expressed various demands to the university.

There were a few altercations between individuals participating in the pro-Palestinian protest and individuals who were there criticizing the event. That is why the university called the police. Representatives of both groups filed criminal charges. The disputes have been settled.

At that point in time, the university management was of the opinion that they need not interfere with the event since on-site observers were reporting that the participants were talking peacefully and respectfully with each other.

There were protesters sympathetic to Palestinians and Jewish and/or Israeli participants in the room at all times , with both groups participating in the discussion. Universities must act as a forum for such exchanges of ideas and opinions. Even if universities do not condone sit-ins and occupation as means of expressing ideas, they should certainly tolerate students who express themselves in a respectful, responsible, and dialogue-oriented manner within the framework of the law. This point was made clear to the organizers. The university should only call upon police assistance in vacating the premises as a last resort.

The situation took a different turn in the afternoon – podium speakers began making statements that were not reflective of peaceful, respectful, and open democratic dialogue and several altercations took place. At this point, the decision was made to ask the participants to leave the premises.

Some participants chose not to comply, and thus the university invoked its right to have individuals removed from university property with the help of the police around 4:00 p.m.

(Last updated: January 8, 2024)