Pro-Palestinian protesters reject U of O proposal, vow to remain at encampment

WhenSumayya Kheireddinecrossed the stage at her convocation Sunday,cries of "Free Palestine!" rang out as she faced her fellowUniversity of Ottawa graduates with the words "divest now" written on her hands.

"[It was] the least I cando," theTelfer School of Management graduate told CBC.

Kheireddine is the president of INSAF, one of the organizations behind the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Ottawa.

She's also one of many students who have been protesting at the university's convocation ceremonies this month.

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"It's just it doesn't feel right for us to begraduating and allowing business to continue as usual whenwe know that there's no universities left in Gaza," she said.

After the ceremony, Kheireddine returned to the encampment that went up more than a month ago. She saidstudents will remain there until the U of O takes their demands seriously.

Offer didn't 'seriously address divestment'

Those demands includea promise from the school to divest fromcompanies protesterssay have ties to Israel and the conflict in Gaza.

A proposal from the university last week included an offer to releasea fulllist of its investments, including those in Israel.

It came with conditions, however, including thatprotesters would not disrupt convocation ceremonies and would pack up the encampment.

Ayem Hakimi, one of the protesters, saidthe group rejected the proposal because it did not "seriously address divestment."

The protesters also want the university to specifically define anti-Palestinian racism and cut ties with academic institutions in Israel.

In a statement posted to the university's website, vice-president of academic affairs Jacques Beauvais wrote that he wasdisappointed by the group's decision andthat theschool is working toward a resolution with students.

"Throughout the discussions, we have reaffirmed our commitment to maintaining responsible investment practices," the statement said.

"The University is a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI), which are currently incorporated into our Responsible Investment Guidelines. We are committed to reviewing our Guidelines through a human rights lens."

Will keep protesting until compromise reached

Roughly 8,000 graduates from the class of 2024 will be walking across the stage at 11 ceremonies this month, university spokesperson Jesse Robichaud wrote in a statement to CBC.

"Everyone in our community has the right to celebrate these accomplishments in an environment of safety and respect, and we have implemented enhanced security measures to ensure convocation is inclusive and accessible to all," Robichaud wrote.

ButDawoud Najmudin, a student who protested at a convocation ceremony on Saturday afternoon, told CBC the goal is not to disrespectstudents' achievements but to be visible and remind the administration that they're not going anywhere.

"If anyone's actually disrespecting students it's the administration," he said, accusing the university of not engaging with the protesters"in good faith."

Kheireddinesays the group is open to further discussion with the university and hopes to reach a compromise that will satisfy their demands.

"We are going to stayuntil the university ... at least gives us something close to what we're demanding," Hakimiadded.