Must camp outside the principal’s office for two weeks

– We have met the principal and had a dialogue. It has resulted in solidarity celebrations and some panel discussions. That’s not enough.

That’s what Michel Scafstaedt says. Together with the group Students for Palestine, they have today set up a tent outside the rector’s office to demonstrate for an academic boycott of Israel. They have been given permission to stay and demonstrate there for two weeks.

They are not alone in that. According to Universitas, Students for Palestine have coordinated demonstrations at several Norwegian universities. At the University of Oslo, the University of Tromsø, the University of Southeast Norway and the Norwegian University of the Environment and Life Sciences, students have gathered to sleep in tents.

They require this:

• That all institutional cooperation with Israeli higher education institutions ends
• That formal ties with Israeli companies that have connections with the Israeli military or in Palestinian occupied territories be suspended
• That resources are provided to build up relations with Palestinian higher education institutions
• That scholarships are offered to Palestinian students and faculty members at bombed universities in Gaza
• Support for digital resources for staff and students at Palestinian universities

Since the first demonstrations for academic boycotts, several universities have taken action. According to a survey by NRK, several of the universities demonstrated at have frozen or canceled their agreements with Israeli educational institutions.

According to Schafstaedt, that doesn’t work.

– What the universities have done is symbolic politics. Israel is doing fine without exchange agreements with us. The universities are in a good position to put pressure on the state.

As of now, Schafstaedt has not received any signals that any of what they are demonstrating for will be fulfilled.

– Whether or not what we demonstrate is implemented should not be decisive for the commitment. The fact that we have to count in an attempt to be heard perhaps testifies that it is not so realistic. What we demand is nevertheless absolutely necessary. That is why we are here.

The rector at the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen, is sitting in a university board meeting and therefore does not have the opportunity to answer questions.

Before today’s board meeting, Hagen has informed the other board representatives about the demonstration via message. Studvest has gained access to the message. Here it is stated that UiB will be in ongoing dialogue with the organiser. It also states that as a university you must facilitate statements and demonstrations, while at the same time ensuring a good learning and working environment.

There is little indication that the protests will escalate as they have in the United States, where over 1,000 students are said to have been arrested according to CNN.

The same channel also reports that police with visors, gas masks and strips have moved into Los Angeles’ largest university. There, arrested students are led onto buses. CNN’s reporters have seen police firing rubber bullets at the protesters.