We, the undersigned students, parents, alumni, and community members, are deeply concerned by the rise of hateful and violent so-called "encampments" on college campuses across the country. In response to those on UW-Madison, we demand that the University of Wisconsin-Madison administration take all necessary steps to ensure a safe learning environment for all students, including enforcing all relevant campus policies. If UW-Madison is unwilling or unable to stop hate groups from denying any student the education they paid for, we demand that those students receive refunds from the university immediately. 

The “encampments” at UW-Madison are part of a wider campaign promoted by National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP), a group that called Hamas’s genocidal terrorist attack on October 7th a “historic win.”  

This campaign is an attempt to “seize [our] universities” and force administrations to endorse the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS).  BDS has direct ties to Hamas according to the  New York Times, and shares the terrorist group’s goal of ending Israel’s existence. Meanwhile, Hamas has praised the campus encampments for aiding in its cause. 

It is therefore no surprise that these encampments have already resulted in the harassment, intimidation, and in some cases, physical assault against Jewish and pro-Israel students across the country.  

As stated in a manifesto written by Columbia and Yale students, the encampments aim to disrupt education and other aspects of campus life. According to that manifesto, this is only the beginning. It states, “it will take the opening of new fronts and the spread of increasingly disruptive tactics, such as building occupations” to achieve their goals.

Administrators have an obligation to protect students, including shutting down demonstrations that violate school policies. The Administrative Code of Wisconsin clearly states, “Among other rules, this  section specifically ... prohibits camping on university property.” Instead of enforcing these rules and laws, the UW-Madison administration has completely ignored the harmful environment these encampments create and the antagonistic culture they perpetuate on campus. This is especially the case for Jewish, Israeli, and Zionist students, whose identities are directly threatened by these encampments.

Allowing hate groups to prevent students from utilizing the education they paid for is unacceptable.  Students who cannot freely and safely access all campus facilities and resources at UW-Madison should not have to pay tuition. Therefore, we demand that UW-Madison either dismantle encampments that violate school policies or that they give students their money back. 

Additionally, to maintain safety and inclusion for all, we demand the following actions to ensure the  safety and fairness not only for your Jewish students, but the broader UW community: 

 

1.  Enforce The Law

University, state, or federal rules for peaceful protest must be upheld. Harassment, name-calling, nazi salutes, and violence are never acceptable.  According to UW rules, camping is prohibited.  U.S. Senate Resolution 497 states that writing or saying “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free” is illegal.  It is a call for Genocide of the Jewish People and is a direct threat to our Jewish population.  Rules to prevent harassment, threats, and violence are written for a reason, and need to be enforced for the safety of the students and the university as a whole. 

Recent events on campuses nationwide demonstrate the escalation of riots on campuses allowing encampments and violent demonstrations (UCLA and Columbia) vs. the calm, peaceful atmosphere on campuses that didn’t allow violent rioters with criminal demands to take over (University of Florida).  

Discipline (suspend, expel, arrest, fire, deport) students, professors, and administrators that organize(d), attend(ed), or give credit to students for attending illegal protests.  Remove any outside agitators from campus and do not allow them to return.

2.  Include Jewish Zionist students and professors in all discussions and negotiations

We insist that there be TRUE Jewish representation in any discussion between campus leaders and campus-based “organizers” to ensure that there is a fair and balanced representation of the facts.  Approximately 95% of the Jewish population are Zionists and Jewish representation should reflect that.  

Such meetings should be public to the university community through Zoom or other measures. On May 2, 2024, UW leaders met with Professor Samer Alatout, and agreed to many of his unreasonable and unlawful demands.  Zionist students and professors need to be part of any negotiations  Thus far, we have been completely ignored.  

As of the afternoon of May 2, 2024, the encampments returned with the promise to the illegal protestors that no action would be taken.  This is NOT acceptable!  Professor Samer Alatout has expressed public hate against Israel and is Students for Justice in Palestine’s (SJP) leader. Any agreements made with the University’s leadership with him and his fellow insurrectionists are invalid and need to be canceled pending meetings with Jewish Zionist students, professors, and their legal representatives.

In addition to allowing the illegal encampments, the organizers’ anti-Israel demands to “cut all ties with Israeli Institutions, including the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Fund, Moose Graduate Exchange Fellowship, and Study Abroad Programs in Israel” are unacceptable. The audacity to meet without pro-Jewish representation and to agree to any demands with antisemetic, anti-zionist people is shocking.  If UW is going to listen to any further demands, it MUST include representation from the significant Jewish, Zionist population.

3.  Keep our students safe  

Add keycards to all university buildings that allow only students, professors, administrators, and other university employees in campus buildings.  Everyone who is in a building can then be identified easily so investigations can be made efficiently should the need arise.  All others should be required to get a visitor’s pass and their identification (ID) recorded for safety purposes.  Those that don’t have a university ID or a visitor’s pass and participate in protests can then be considered outside agitators and be dealt with accordingly.

 

4.  Suspend the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) student organization

Suspend SJP for organizing and promoting the unlawful encampments and harassment of Jewish people in and around the UW campus. A current lawsuit against the National Students For Justice in Palestine alleges that the organization is funded by Hamas and recruits terrorists on University campuses nationwide. Investigate SJP’s leadership and funding for ties to terrorist organizations, including Hamas.  Any funding by terroristic countries or organizations that threaten the United States or Jewish students and faculty shall be stopped and any affiliated UW  group shall be disbanded and banned.

5.  Identify where UW received its funding

Divest from any countries and/or terrorist organizations (Hamas, Qatar) that funded these violent encampments.  The United States needs to be free from terrorism in all its forms and funded anarchy from anti-US countries is a form of terrorism. 

6.  Educators should educate, not indoctrinate

Require educators to leave their personal views out of the classroom, and teach facts.  Harassment or discrimination against students that disagree with their personal viewpoints should not be permitted.  Professors who include their personal political viewpoints in classes should be suspended pending investigation and dismissed.

7.  Provide training for UW students, faculty, and administrators regarding UW’s rules of protest

Include the training at SOAR.  Everyone who undergoes training must sign a legally binding document that they agree to be disciplined (suspension, expulsion, arrest, deportation) should they break these rules.