Follow-up Information regarding Disruption at Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture 2/26/24

Dear Campus Community,

This message is to follow up on my message from last week regarding the disruption caused by the student-led protest during the Spring 2024 Susan Resneck Pierce Lecture featuring U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer on February 21.

We understand the concerns and frustrations voiced by our students, and we respect their right to peacefully protest. The right to protest is not absolute, though, and there should be no illusion that the protestors at the Pierce Lecture were peaceful in their intent or their actions. Many – but not all – protestors knowingly engaged in aggressive, violent and intimidating actions, including use of chants and signs that some consider antisemitic, during Wednesday's event. These protestors, with support from outside groups unaffiliated with the university, intentionally and substantially interfered with a planned university event and infringed on the rights of others to hear and engage with Rep. Kilmer. They jeopardized the safety of those in attendance, and attempted to intimidate our campus community and members of the broader Tacoma community who had purchased tickets to this event by breaching a private space, using amplification devices to drown out other speech, and then attempting to enter a second university building.

We are grateful for the Puget Sound staff members who were present when protestors forcibly entered Schneebeck Concert Hall and attempted to safeguard attendees against the aggressive behavior, and also grateful for those staff members who offered assistance to a protestor outside Schneebeck Concert Hall and were rebuked for their efforts and rebuffed. We fully support staff who helped ensure the safety of guests at the Pierce Lecture against any unfounded criticism levied against them.

What’s Next:

Conducting Review and Investigation: As I mentioned in my message last week, we are undertaking a thorough review of the events and associated campus policies and protocols. We have received reports from staff, attendees, and protestors about their experiences at the event and have begun investigating the concerns raised. Anyone who has violated the Student Integrity Code, Code of Conduct, Faculty Code, or other relevant university policies, including prohibitions against violence, harassment and discrimination, will be held appropriately accountable. We understand there may be interest and speculation surrounding this protest. Still, we encourage everyone to avoid perpetuating misinformation and rumors and to wait for the investigation to conclude before drawing any conclusions. Please remember that confidentiality protections for faculty, staff, and student information may prevent the university from sharing any individual outcomes.

Providing Support for the Campus Community: Recognizing the adverse and possibly ongoing effects from Wednesday’s event, we are offering counseling and support services to faculty, staff, and students needing assistance. University Chaplain Dave Wright (dwright@pugetsound.edu) and Senior Director of Intercultural Engagement Miriam Chitiga (mchitiga@pugetsound.edu) are available to meet with those seeking support. Students may also schedule an appointment with Counseling, Health & Wellness Services (CHWS). Additionally, students can access real-time counseling support through UWill with your @pugetsound.edu email and employees can always contact the Employee Assistance Program. Human Resources is separately reaching out to employees and work groups with additional resources and information.

Fostering Inclusiveness and Understanding on Global Issues: As a university, we deeply value all lives affected by conflicts worldwide. We actively engage in open and civil dialogue and provide support to foster understanding and empathy within our community. This is evident in recent guest lecturers who have been invited to speak on topics such as the Israel-Hamas war. Puget Sound is committed to supporting diverse perspectives and will continue to invite a variety of speakers and to ensure all viewpoints are respected and represented on campus.

Engaging in Open Dialogue: We remain committed to constructive dialogue to address concerns and find mutually acceptable solutions. We understand that some groups felt unheard regarding their requests to cancel the event even as we engaged with student leaders and organizers about their concerns and attempted to engage others who declined to do so.  As noted in my email last week, Rep. Kilmer himself extended an invitation to the students who organized the protest of the event to engage with him following his lecture. Regrettably, this invitation was not accepted by the student group, even though it would have given them a unique and significant opportunity to try and effect the change they purport to want to see. We are committed to providing communication channels to ensure all voices are considered; however, this requires everyone to engage constructively.

I will continue to provide updates and information as I can. On behalf of the entire President’s Cabinet, I want to affirm that we appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate this situation together. We remain resolute in our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive campus environment consistent with our values and mission as a liberal arts institution.

Sincerely,