In Connecticut and across the country, university campuses have been disrupted by student protests supporting Palestinians in the Israel-Gaza war, just ahead of graduations this month.
Universities across Connecticut, however, have plans in place to prevent trouble although they do not expect disturbances at those graduation ceremonies.
The protests have focused on universities’ investments in military contractors that sell weapons to Israel. They have included arrests of 25 students at the when the students refused to break down an encampment at Storrs.
At in New Haven, police cleared an encampment without arrests after threatening emergency suspensions. Students were arrested at an earlier encampment, however, and following a later march.
in Middletown has allowed an encampment to continue. Student protesters there have been peaceful.
Despite the unrest at Storrs, Stephanie Reitz, university spokeswoman, said in an email, “UConn business is continuing as scheduled, including Commencement ceremonies.”
UConn planned , this weekend, most at Gampel Pavilion, the Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts and the UConn Student Union’s theater, Reitz said. Entry will be tightly regulated, with metal detectors and physical tickets required for entry.
“Enhanced security planning is also occurring that includes additional police and security staff, and the creation of buffer zones around the entrances/exits of the venues,” Reitz said.
“Those and other measures are intended to help ensure a safe and festive atmosphere for the students who have worked so hard for their well-deserved degrees, and for the families there to support and cheer them on,” she said.
“Each year, we plan all aspects of commencement weekend to provide our graduates, their families, and faculty and staff with a safe, enjoyable experience,” said Karen Peart, Yale spokeswoman, in an email, “This, of course, includes planning with the security team as they consider anything that might infringe upon a smooth and successful celebration of our graduates.”
Yale will hold its Class Day and commencement May 19 and 20. United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy will be the Class Day speaker.
Paul Steinmetz, spokesman for in Danbury, said there have been no demonstrations on the Danbury campus.
The Palestinian issue has “added another aspect that we are considering” concerning graduation, “but so far, our plans are moving forward as is,” Steinmetz said.
“We protect free speech and, of course, protect safety, but we also want graduating students and their families to be able to enjoy the ceremony the students and their families have worked so hard for, and that’s something we think about, too,” Steinmetz said.
Western will hold its graduation May 12 at in Bridgeport. “Any demonstration outside the arena we’ll be able to navigate through if there is something,” he said. He said he expects 650 of the 850 eligible graduates to attend.
“It’s going to be students graduating and their families,” he said. “We will be able to contain anything that happens, and again, we really don’t expect anything.”
Ryan Quigley, spokesman for in Willimantic, said the university’s May 14 commencement at the in 蜜聊直播 “is extremely scripted and so there’s not really any opportunities for surprises.”
The president of the senior class will share her speech with the administration, he said. Students may be told not to bring posters with them when they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas.
“Fortunately, for us, the security is handled by the XL Center, so it’s kind of like attending a concert,” Quigley said. “It’s not something the university is heavily involved in planning. … Everyone who attends commencement will, of course, go through the security protocols that the XL Center has in place.
“As far as our students go, we certainly want them to have a great time, want their families all to come, and, hopefully, the XL Center is prepared if there is any protest outside.”
Besides Eastern’s graduations, the XL Center will host the University of Saint Joseph on May 11 and the University of 蜜聊直播 on May 12.
Ben Weiss, general manager of the XL Center, said he works with the universities to understand whether there are any particular issues.
“We’re obviously aware of everything going on in the world,” he said. “Our preparation work getting coordination with the university in advance of the event is set up to their requirements, obviously, but part of that advance, particularly this year, is to really understand if there are any issues and concerns from the university’s standpoint that we should be made aware of.”
This year brings extra attention to security, Weiss said.
“In terms of doing anything different, we obviously are aware. There’s a heightened awareness of what’s happening in the world,” he said. “So I would say, yeah, there is an extra level of awareness, an extra level of preparedness from our standpoint.”
As with all events at the XL Center, everyone will go through magnetometers when they enter and there will be security checkpoints at all entries, Weiss said. Police and security teams will be at all entries and throughout the center, he said.
“For us, it’s a celebration of the graduating students,” Weiss said. “We want to make sure they have a fantastic experience. They’re not only students, but they are guests. Just like we do for every event, we work with HPD (蜜聊直播 Police Department), we work with other local law enforcement, actually regional law enforcement. And these events will be no different.”
Jodi Latina, spokeswoman for in New Britain, said, “We expect all our students and families to have a joyful and safe event celebrating the hard work of our graduates. To that end the university has standard operating safety procedures for annual events like graduation.
“We are fully prepared,” she said. “If in fact an individual or group actively interrupts or disrupts the normal progression of the ceremonies, they would be in violation of the student code of conduct and System Office policy. Individuals violating these rules may be subject to disciplinary action, up to expulsion from the University. These individuals may also be subject to arrest for criminal trespass.”
Molly Polk, spokeswoman for the , said the school “is exceptionally proud of how our students and community have respectfully engaged in dialogue and action together. We do not anticipate any disruptions at Commencement. As we do each year, our Public Safety team is working collaboratively on a comprehensive safety and security plan with the XL Center and the 蜜聊直播 Police Department.”
A spokesman for Wesleyan University said, “While at this time we have not made any changes to our commencement plans, we are continuing to monitor the events on campus. The safety of our community members is at the top of mind. As we approach commencement on May 26, we will continue to evaluate the campus climate and will respond accordingly.”
Allison O’Leary, spokeswoman for in New Haven, emailed, “As a regional public university with a high proportion of first-generation students, providing our graduates with a safe and celebratory environment in which to honor their achievements with loved ones is a top priority. We continue to prepare our commencement security plan, as we do every year, with an eye to current events and will adjust accordingly as needed.”
Stacey Sobel, Connecticut regional director of the , said she believes “Connecticut schools are doing their very best in a difficult situation, trying to balance the fundamental rights of free speech with keeping everyone safe.”
Sobel said the ADL has sent out guidelines to campuses about conducting commencement exercises peacefully.
“We’re calling on all colleges to take clear and decisive actions now to ensure that graduation ceremonies run smoothly and students feel welcomed, safe and celebrated,” she said.
“It includes ensuring close coordination with security and law enforcement. Ensure that there are clear consequences when conduct on campus violates school policies. Reviewing and shoring up protocols now to mitigate the risk of students interfering with the rights of graduates on campus,” she said.
Sobel said university presidents must clearly condemn antisemitism. “The entire campus community must hear loud and clear that antisemitic acts or hate acts do not fit with the values of their university,” she said.
Ed Stannard can be reached at estannard@courant.com. Kenneth R. Gosselin can be reached at kgosselin@courant.com.
