University of Chicago withholds diplomas from four students involved in encampment

GUNS DEMANDED HIS KEYS. HE FIRED HIS OWN WEAPON. THE SUSPECTS RAN OFF. NO ONE WAS HURT. >>> INSIDE THE COMMENCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO TODAY. THE DEMONSTRATION COMES AS THE UNIVERSITY WITHHOLDS DEGREES FROM FOR STUDENTS AFTER THEY PARTICIPATED IN PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENTS. THE UNIVERSITY CONFIRMS ONE PERSON WAS ARRESTED. CBS 2 IS LIVE WITH THE TENSION THAT KICKED UP ON CAMPUS. >> Reporter: GOOD EVENING. WE SAW TENSION ON CAMPUS FOUR WEEKS AGO WHEN A PRO-PALESTINIAN ENCAMPMENT WAS DISMANTLED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS. TODAY'S PROTEST WAS A RESULT OF THAT AND THE UNIVERSITY'S DECISION TO WITHHOLD DEGREES FROM FOR STUDENTS WHO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR GAZA. PROTESTS FLARING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO ONCE AGAIN. DURING THE GRADUATION CEREMONY, STUDENTS WALKED OUT. OUTSIDE THE CEREMONY, PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS TRIED TO ACCESS A BLOCKED STREET AND WERE MET BY POLICE. THE UNIVERSITY SAYS A SMALL NUMBER OF PROTESTERS ACTED VIOLENTLY AND ONE PROTESTER, UNAFFILIATED WITH THE UNIVERSITY, WAS ARRESTED. ALL OF THIS AS THE UNIVERSITY WITHOUT THE DEGREES OF FOR STUDENTS. >> THEY ARE CLAIMING I MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ENCAMPMENT. YET THERE IS NOTHING SUBSTANTIAL THAT THEY HAVE SHOWN US. THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN US ANY COMPLAINTS. THEY HAVE NOT TOLD US THE STATUE WE DISRUPTED. >> Reporter: HE AND THE OTHER THREE WERE ALLOWED TO WALK, BUT THEY WERE NOT GRANTED DEGREES. THE UNIVERSITY SAYS IT IS BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE ENCAMPMENT AND DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT. NOW A CONDUCT INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY FOR THE STUDENTS. >> I WAS EXPECTING TO GO ON MY JOB HUNT AND HAVE OPPORTUNITIES NOW THAT I AM A GRADUATE FROM ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ELITE INSTITUTIONS AND NOW I AM NONE OF THAT. I DON'T THINK ANY OF THAT WILL HAPPEN. >> Reporter: HE WAS AMONG HUNDREDS DURING THE EIGHT DAYS OF THE ENCAMPMENT AND ON THE DAY IT WAS DISMANTLED, MAY 7, HE WAS FRONT AND CENTER, A DECISION HE SAYS HE DOES NOT REGRET AS HE STANDS WITH STUDENTS IN GAZA. >> I HAVE NO REGRETS. I WILL DO THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I WILL COMPLETE EVERY CREDIT HOUR AGAIN. I WILL COMPLETE MY LAST FINAL AND STILL BE TOLD I WON'T GET MY DIPLOMA AND DO IT OVER AGAIN. THESE FOUR YEARS ME NOTHING IF I'M NOT STANDING FOR GAZA AND TELLING THE UNIVERSITY THEIR INVESTMENTS ARE WRONG. >> Reporter: THE STUDENTS ARE CALLING FOR THE UNIVERSITY TO DISCLOSE AND DIVEST FROM COMPANIES WITH TIES TO ISRAEL. WE KNOW THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND FACULTY MEMBERS HAVE SIGNED A PETITION CALLING ON THE UNIVERSITY TO GRANT THE STUDENTS THEIR DEGREES. AS FOR THE UNIVERSITY AND THE ONE PERSON ARRESTED, THEY ARE CURRENTLY SEEKING BATTERY CHARGES AND THAT PROTESTER WA

Channel: CBS Chicago

Views: 9,497

Keywords: CBS 2 News Weekends, Chicago, University of Chicago, Palestine, Gaza, Hamas, Israel, Protest, Graduation

Id: 3Om3BPOUKVc

Length: 2min 56sec (176 seconds)

Published: Sun Jun 02 2024