Northwestern University accedes to student protesters’ demands — it’s time to hold President Michael Schill accountable
May 7, 2024
Northwestern University has given in to the student protesters. Of course, some will call this a successful negotiation, others will be less pleasant in their description:
Northwestern University officials announced Monday that they have reached an agreement with students and faculty protesting against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza,
That agreement?
The university has also agreed to fund two visiting Palestinian faculty members each year and provide scholarships for five Palestinian undergraduates throughout their undergraduate careers. It will also provide and renovate a community building that can be used as a gathering space for Middle Eastern, North African and Muslim students.
In return, only students and faculty can demonstrate and there are to be no tents. It’s possible to view this as rather one sided in who gives up what. Given that, some organizations, including Accuracy in Media are calling for Northwestern President Michael Schill to step down:
In a joint statement published Tuesday, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), the Brandeis Center, and StandWithUs urged Schill to step down from his leadership position.
The agreement is already running into legal problems:
The complaint documents the university’s plan to offer nearly $1.9 million in scholarship funds, faculty positions, and student-organization space to Palestinian students and staff. As a recipient of federal funds, Northwestern University is subject to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination “on the grounds of race, color, or national origin,” WILL said.
But more than that. The demonstrations themselves have been called a “dystopic cesspool of hate “ at yet the college administration has given in?
A reasonable guide from history is that giving in to the extremists only leads them to making ever more extreme demands.
AIM will be there at Northwestern this week with a mobile billboard calling Schill for contributing to that cesspool of hate. The truck will visit both the President’s Residence and the main campus.
Join us in our push to hold Northwestern President Michael Schill accountable for failing to adequately address antisemitism on campus by visiting www.SchillForHamas.com.