vote in UT-Austin president after protest response
Fallout from police crackdowns on a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin continued Thursday morning with faculty condemning the response, university leaders defending their actions and students organizing a second round of protests.
At a much less tense rally Thursday on UT-Austin's campus, faculty with the school's chapter of the American Association of University Professors said they planned to hold a vote of no confidence in President Jay Hartzell over his management of the protest the day before and the school's implementation of legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs at public universities. AAUP members were seen passing around a petition asking faculty to sign in their support.
Students at the rally reiterated their main demand from the day before, calling on UT-Austin to divest from all weapon manufacturers and companies involved with Israel. They also called for Hartzell's resignation and complete amnesty for student protesters and members of the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which organized Wednesday’s event, who were arrested.
All told, 57 people — including one journalist — were arrested on the school’s campus on Wednesday, the Travis County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday. The arrests quickly sparked backlash from faculty and students, who called the reaction heavy-handed since the protest showed no signs of violence when it started. Emphasis mine.
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I told my husband last night this would blow up. He also agreed that faculty would get involved. We worked 20 plus years in higher education. Faculty hold free speech sacrosanct.
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