Campus Protest Information
This page contains messages from the USF administration and general resources for the USF community related to protests and demonstrations on campus.
Check back frequently for updates.
July 1, 2024: A message to student organizers
To the student organizers engaged in the Welch Field encampment and in demands to USF administration:
We are writing as part of our ongoing follow-up to honor the administration’s commitment to a peaceful path forward following the events this spring, including the encampment.
This communication has been delayed for a number of reasons, including the circulation on campus of additional information regarding your requests, disruptions occurring on campus, and year-end events, including commencement.
The administration is continuing to work through the demands you have presented.
We are currently working with academic deans regarding strengthening the curriculum and the academic study of Palestine and Palestinians. We will also work to provide opportunities for research focused on Palestine studies and support for Palestinian students.
Regarding our dialogue around our socially responsible investment policies: We are committed to establishing a new socially responsible advisory investment task force composed of a representative group of students, faculty, and staff. This group will work with the USF Office of Business and Finance and the USF Board of Trustees Investment Committee regarding investment practices and alignment of the investments with the university’s mission and values. We are committed to continuing a respectful dialogue, including holding educational sessions on the university’s investment policies, and working through what was outlined in ASUSF’s resolution by fall 2024.
We look forward to continuing our conversations in the new academic year.
Sincerely,
Eileen Fung, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs
Julie Orio, Vice President of Student Life
Shannon Gary, Associate Vice President of Student Life and Dean of Students
May 24: Statement on Recent Student Conduct Notices
Many members of the USF community have expressed their support and concern for the approximately 25 USF students who received conduct notices from the Office of Student Conduct, Rights, and Responsibilities (OSCRR) on Tuesday, May 21, in relation to events and activities associated with the encampment on Welch Field.
May 21: Update on Welch Field Encampment and Moving Forward
We write to share an update that the Welch Field encampment has disbanded. The following is a summary of events that led to the demonstrators vacating the field.
May 13: Message to the Community re: Encampment
In my continuing efforts to provide timely and transparent updates regarding the encampment on Welch Field, I am sharing with you information regarding a meeting this morning that I held with several members of my administration and several student leaders of the Welch Field encampment.
May 8: A peaceful path forward; responding to recent demands
In line with our institutional commitment to transparency and partnership, I write to update you on recent events on USF’s campus and provide you with the administration’s response to requests from student representatives.
May 3: A Peaceful Path Forward
To echo what Fr. Fitzgerald said in his recent message, we know it has been difficult to watch how events are unfolding on university campuses across the country — especially when situations and emotions escalate and cause harm to peaceful protesters.
April 30: Encampment on Welch Field
As some of you may know, yesterday afternoon a number of our students walked out of classes and joined other members of our community and individuals not affiliated with USF to create a tent encampment on Welch Field. Our students and community members are protesting the devastation being caused by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.