Cal Poly Humboldt faculty criticize administration for policing pro-Palestine protest

by Alana Hackman

Cal Poly Humboldt students, faculty, and community members joined a virtual University Senate meeting on Tuesday, April 23. 

“There is considerable interest in engaging with the open forum today. More than is likely to be possible, given due to time constraints,” meeting leader James Woglom said. “Given that, we’re going to prioritize guests. If you are a senator and we are unable to get to you today, I do apologize.”  

Woglom then continued to introduce senators present in the meeting that evening, including Provost Jenn Capps and Chief of Staff, Mark Johnson, who would be present on behalf of the university president, Tom Jackson.

Senator and graduate coordinator of the sociology department Mary Virnoche proposed the upcoming agenda be edited. Virnoche proposed a discussion item to be inserted into the agenda to receive an update on the campus response to the current protestors occupying Siemens Hall. No senate members objected. 

Woglom began the discussion by citing their own experience observing the protest last night. They mentioned speaking with other individuals earlier in the day to discuss how they can make progress to meet the needs and demands of those occupying Siemens Hall. 

Woglom then called for any member of the campus faculty or community to share any up-to-date information they may have regarding the current occupation. Each speaker was allocated a three-minute time limit.

“I had a meeting with [Chrissy Holliday] right before this and it seems the current concern is that there [are] confidential documents in Siemens Hall,” Parker said. “So far, no one has made an attempt to reach those. If that continues, it sounds like they’ll be fairly hands off.”

The open forum discussing the current state of the Siemen Hall occupation continued with Jamela Hashim, a social work student who was currently joining from a smartphone with other senate meeting attendees, Gabi Kirk of the geology department, and Janet Winston of the English department. All mentioned they were currently outside of Siemens Hall.

Hashim urged meeting attendees that it was vital to address that internet services have been cut off within Siemens Hall so nobody inside would be able to comment. 

“That seems like a bias that should be addressed in some way,” Hashim said. 

Wolgom acknowledged the statement and encouraged protestors inside of the hall should text outside sources information they would like to be relayed during the meeting. 

The proposed discussion by Virnoche lasted until about 4:12 p.m., until it was cut off to discuss the UPRC budget, CR/NC deadline, and Faculty Awards. 

As the discussion unfolded many faculty, students, and community members spoke up about supporting the student protestors’ requested demands and urging for a ceasefire. 

“Here at Cal Poly Humboldt, we pride ourselves on being student-centered and guiding our students’ academic journeys towards careers that will usher in a brighter and more empathetic world grounded in values of justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Kelly Fortner, Community-based learning faculty. “If we want to hold true to those values, as a university and campus community, we need to meet the demands of our students and make a stand against genocide.” 

On the frontlines of the sit-in, Kirk and Winston used their three-minute speech slots to read a three-page letter collectively written by faculty deploring the University administration for the use of police force, and standing in solidarity with student protestors. As of now, the letter has 164 signatures from staff, students, and community members. 

“We call on Cal Poly Humboldt to reflect on the real harm this crackdown on free speech inflicts,” the letter states. “And the message it sends to current and future students, their parents, faculty, and staff, and our communities within and beyond Humboldt”

Following that, Chief of Staff Mark Johnson made a statement on behalf of the university and President Tom Jackson. Johnson encouraged meeting attendees to share possible ways they can move forward from the current events of possibly 40 to 60 protestors currently occupying Siemen Hall.

Johnson explained that the students inside Siemens Hall were offered on several occasions to exit the building and protest in the quad or somewhere else suitable for them. He then explains that their denial to do so then equates to trespassing on public property. 

“They refused that offer and insisted on occupying and effectively shutting down the nerve center of the campus,” Johnson said. “I think all of you understand what happened yesterday as we went through actions to try to remove those protestors who were effectively trespassing in the building.” 

Johnson also commented that the police force was removed after the realization it was inflaming the situation rather than aiding it. Johnson mentions there are planning efforts moving forward to communicate with the protestors inside the building and provide a more peaceful and secure environment to the other students on campus. Johnson then opened the floor for constructive criticism on how to move forward with current events after reiterating that the police force involved was once again a result of the students refusing to protest in a content-neutral way. 

“The president’s administrative team and President Jackson are making operational decisions based on real-time information about what is happening around voting and on campus,” Johnson said.

California Faculty Association (CFA) president Marisol Ruiz laid out recommendations for moving forward on behalf of the CFA. Her requests included not prosecuting anyone involved, showing support for students’ organized efforts for Gaza, and rejecting the use of force and policing. Ruiz also called for a statement from Tom Jackson and Jenn Capps. 

“The lesson should not be in the sacrifices that have to be made for advocacy but about the possibilities we find there for solutions,” Ruiz said.

Geology professor Jim Graham followed Ruiz’s statement with a request for possible outside sourcing of an arbitrator to speak to the current protestors. Graham also reflected on the student sit-in in 2015 in regards to Native American Studies professor, Jacquelyn Bowman’s termination. Giving student protestors credit for their organizational abilities and dedication during that event.  

Another attendee, Katie Koscielak the sustainability analyst at Cal Poly Humboldt then questioned if any of the student protestors’ demands were being met. A list of the demands had been circulating around social media. 

Woglom spoke before Johnson stating that they are currently working with the students to make their demands more concise. Woglom and Johnson mentioned specifying the investments within the demands of the university can make them more achievable. 

“The investments at the system level, at the state level, are not under our control in any way shape, or form,” Johnson said. “We do have some investments as part of the endowment and to add to James’ point we are looking into those investments, those portfolios to make certain that we understand what if, if any, percentage of those investments are already in better, broad terms, defense contractors.” 

Johnson continued to state that President Jackson would not be making any statements in support of or against any political opinions or subjects. 

“With regard to having a war or causing a ceasefire, causing the United States to divest in broader terms, those are things really outside of the control of anybody here on campus, and therefore are not actionable or realistic for the university to consider as demands to be met,” Johnson said. 

After Johnson’s final comment, concerned community members shared their thoughts on the University’s handling of the student protestors. Concerns were made surrounding words used to villainize the protestors, hygiene following campus closures, and the overall prioritization of property safety over people. 

One community member Genevieve Ameduri shared a strong message of disdain of the university’s call for policing the student protestors. Ameduri explained that she and her husband have recently moved to Arcata and adopted three Palestinian children who are hopeful to attend Cal Poly Humboldt in the future. She explains seeing a student hit over the head by police in riot gear in the first fifteen minutes of attending the protest was extremely upsetting and made her question the University’s priorities. 

“Our children have the decency and the heart to stand up and we put them in violent outcomes, it’s unacceptable,” Ameduri said. “I am ashamed of all of you who have not spoken up and stood with them.”