“We’re Still Here”: UConnDivest holds first Gaza solidarity conference of the academic year 

At noon on Monday Aug. 26, a collective of current and former students gathered beside the University of Connecticut’s historic Spirit Rock, newly relocated to the South Campus Quad, with the purpose of, “supporting divestment, opposing repression, and calling for the charges against the UConn 26 to be dropped,” according to UConnDivest’s official press release. 

Since the dissolution of the Gaza solidarity encampment and the arrest of 26 UConn alumni and students last April, the resolve of protestors to secure university divestment from military industries has been fortified.  

“The arrests emboldened us to keep going,” said undergraduate student Zaki Aryan. “Just because the summer is over doesn’t mean the genocide is over in Gaza. The police activity made us a lot more motivated to do something.” 

Among the crowd of impassioned students were representatives from the UConn administration including the Dean of Students Dr. Fany DeJesus Hannon, Associate Dean of Students Maureen Armstrong and Interim Assistant Vice President for Student Life Cyndi Costanzo. Prior to the event’s commencement, the university officials briefed student protestors that rules regarding amplified sound had been recently updated, with noncompliance to this policy having been cited previously against Gaza solidarity demonstrations on campus.  

The use of amplified sound is now limited to 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. during the weekend, a change that received criticism for potentially limiting the right to free speech and assembly particularly for those with hearing disabilities and among large crowds. 

Protestors spoke both through direct speeches and with written calls to action, most notably with the words, “We Are Still Here,” and “Free the UConn 26” spray painted on the Spirit Rock at the start of the demonstration. 

With one sign reading, “We are skipping our lessons to teach you one,” the decision to host a conference on the first day of the academic calendar was calculated. 

“We offer special solidarity to our fellow students and scholars in Gaza who are seeking to preserve their community memory in the face of genocide, scholasticide, and mass atrocity,” said undergraduate student Ashten Vassar-Cain of Librarians and Archivists for Palestine. The United Nations reports that over 80 percent of schools in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed. 

In addition to calls for divestment, protestors upheld that the 26 community members arrested last April were acting within their First Amendment rights to free speech and assembly.  

All individuals detained during the encampment were offered accelerated rehabilitation by the State Attorney’s office, a pretrial diversion program granting an eventual erasure of criminal records in exchange for the admission of guilt. Accelerated rehabilitation may only be completed one time, with any subsequent offenses receiving more severe punishment. 

In her speech before the crowd, Assistant Professor Melanie Newport of UConn’s Department of History posed the question, “Do our students need to be rehabilitated?” The audience’s response was an overwhelming “No.” Of the 26 arrested, only one opted to accept the offer of accelerated rehabilitation, confirmed Newport. 

Despite the May 20th resolution of the University Senate urging President Radenka Maric to dismiss the charges against the so-called UConn 26, the university maintains that the charges will stand. 

“UConn supports the state attorney’s recommendation to let the students apply for the court’s first-time offender program if they choose to exercise that option,” said university spokesperson Stephanie Reitz. “It allows for dismissal of the charges if they complete the court’s requirements. Given that the cases are under the court’s purview, UConn defers to the judicial system regarding the proceedings for those who elect not to seek that option.” 

Opponents of UConn’s decision to continue prosecution have cited the dismissal of similar charges at institutions around the nation, including at UT Austin and Columbia University. 

Coinciding with Monday’s conference was a planned sit-in at Radenka Maric’s office in Gulley Hall, however protestors were refused entry to the building upon arrival. University officials have instead promised to hold a meeting with those individuals on Tuesday, Aug. 27 to discuss their concerns in greater detail.