1:37 p.m.: The Student Center at Lincoln Park Campus is now open. You may exit as needed.
1:20 p.m.: The Student Center on the Lincoln Park Campus is now locked. Avoid the area. If inside the Student Center, please stay indoors. Updates will be shared as available.
11:35 a.m.: President Robert L. Manuel shared a message with the university community after the encampment was cleared. The full message is available online and includes:
- “I understand that the last 17 days have been stressful for many, not only within our campus, but also for those who live and work in our neighboring community. We are saddened that the situation came to the point where law enforcement intervention was necessary to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all – both within and outside the encampment.”
- This morning at 5:30 a.m., DePaul Public Safety and Chicago Police began disassembling the encampment. Every person in the encampment was given the opportunity to leave peacefully. Every person in the encampment was also informed any items left behind would be discarded. The encampment was cleared by approximately 6 a.m., and normal university operations proceeded.
- No one in the encampment was arrested. Two individuals were later arrested by the Chicago Police for obstructing traffic on Belden Ave. Onewas a current student and the other a former student.No injuries have been reported to the university.
- The quad and all green spaces on the Lincoln Park Campus will remain closed until further notice.
- President Manuel also shared a website detailing the impact of the encampment on DePaul and the wider community:
- The university received credible threats of violence, allegations of battery, and dozens of reports of harassment, intimidation and antisemitism. This included threats of violence to the encampment.
- Weapons were found in the encampment while dismantling it, including knives, a pellet gun and other improvised weapons intended to cause harm. Those images are here.
- DePaul negotiated in good faith with encampment organizers until talks reached an impasse. “Despite our solutions resembling what other universities have successfully put forward, our students at DePaul were unable to agree to terms that bound all their people in the coalition. It became apparent that the student leaders did not have the ability to represent everyone or make decisions in our final meeting with the DePaul Divestment Coalition and their attorney on May 11.” A timeline of encampment-related meetings and communications is available here.
7:15 a.m.: The Lincoln Park Quad is closed and clean up has begun. The university is open and classes will proceed as scheduled. Use alternative exits if leaving Richardson Library, SAC, McGowan North/South and University Hall. A university update will be shared as soon as possible.
5:30 a.m.: DePaul University President Robert L. Manuel wrote to the university community this morning that the DePaul encampment is being disassembled. The full message is available online and includes:
- “From the beginning of the encampment, I have said that we would protect free speech and the ability to dissent until it either prevented us from carrying out the operations of our university or threatened the safety of the members of our community. I am deeply saddened to say the encampment has crossed that line.”
- DePaul Office of Public Safety and Chicago Police are now disassembling the encampment. Every person currently in the encampment will be given the opportunity to leave peacefully and without being arrested.
- The university also shared a website with examples of the 1,000+ complaints of discrimination, harassment, and violence that the university received over the past 17 days. Violations include onedeath threatand other threats of violence.
- Images and video of threats to safety and campus operations.
- A timeline of encampment-related meetings and messages here.
Updates on the removal of the encampment will be shared here as soon as available.
Statement on DePaul University waste and recycling hauling vendor
On May 16, DePaul Public Safety and Chicago Police disassembled the encampment on the DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus quad due to ongoing safety concerns and threats of violence. Every person in the encampment was given the opportunity to leave peacefully. Every person in the encampment was also informed that any items left behind would be discarded. All such items were discarded and are irretrievable.
Though local news coverage highlighted its trucks on the Quad, Lakeshore Recycling Service (LRS) and its representatives were not involved in the planning of the encampment clearing. As DePaul University's exclusive waste and recycling hauling vendor, LRS was requested byDePaul University to provide packer (trash) truck service after the encampment had been vacated. LRS provided the requested services in accordance with its contractual obligations.
Media contact:
newsroom@depaul.edu
312-241-9856
