The University of Guelph is facing fines of $20,000 per day, claiming the pro-Palestine encampment on campus continues to block an evacuation pathway.
In a news release posted on May 31, the University of Guelph shared that its campus safety office and Guelph Fire Services found some of the tents set up along Reynolds Walk were obstructing the evacuation pathway from Zavitz Hall and needed to move 10 feet by midnight that day.
“We were hopeful that members of the encampment would voluntarily comply with the requirements to relocate in the interests of safety of those using Zavitz, however, as of this morning members of the encampment have not moved all the tents and personal belongings that are obstructing the evacuation pathway,” said president and vice-chancellor Charlotte Yates in an update posted June 3.
Now, the university is being fined $20,000 per day for non-compliance, and is closing Zavitz Hall “to mitigate risk” until the evacuation route is no longer blocked.
The university did not immediately respond when asked via email how much the school has been fined to date.
“We are working with faculty and staff whose roles with the university have been disrupted by this closure to ensure they can continue with as much of their work as possible,” Yates said.
The university will also be installing additional security cameras in the area of the encampment.
“We are disappointed that the situation has devolved in this way and that disruptions to the operations of the university continue as a result of the encampment,” Yates said.
A group of students, staff and faculty set up the encampment in Branion Plaza on May 21 to protest the university’s military-related investments in Israel amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and don’t plan to leave until their demands are met.
The group, dubbed the People’s Plaza for Palestine, posted on social media saying the exit routes for Zavitz Hall were unobstructed when the encampment was first set up, and that it only became a fire safety issue “when the fences for ‘planned construction’ were set up around the library and Zavitz Hall.”
The post states the administration manufactured the fire safety issue “to detract from our demands for divestment from arms manufacturing and genocide, to drain our energy, and to divide concerned supporters from our movement by painting it as dangerous.”
“We are committed to fire safety and will maintain contact with the fire department. Further, we have taken steps to ensure we’re going above and beyond the university’s fire extinguisher policy by having several class A, B, and C fire extinguishers clearly visible and strategically located around the encampment.”
According to the update, the university administration has had three face-to-face meetings with a group representing the encampment since it was established, and has said the “first disclosure of investment holdings” will be made before the end of the year “dependent on the disbanding of the encampment.”
Prior to the encampment being established, the group sent a petition to the university requesting divestment, which “immediately triggered” the university’s board of governors to review the concerns and make recommendations about the management of the endowment portfolio.
“We have disclosed our investments to the group upon their request and remain committed to following the process outlined in the policy, which is well underway,” Yates said.
Yates noted there have also been discussions about establishing a scholarship or bursary program for students displaced by conflict, as well as enhancing training and education on anti-racism for the university community.
“We remain committed to ongoing discussions and to working with the board on responding to the requests,” Yates said. “However, in order to have productive dialogue, we expect members of the encampment to comply with the orders issued by Guelph Fire to help ensure the health and safety of those on campus, including those in the encampment, and to demonstrate good faith in their approach to discussions.”
