Protests on the Main Quad

MAY 3, 2024 

Dear Members of the University Community

Today at about 1 p.m. there was a confrontation with two groups of protestors on the Main Quadrangle. The University of Chicago Police Department was on the Quad to prevent escalation, and the two groups separated from each other and peace was restored.

While members of the University community are free to express their views on the Quad and elsewhere, using force or physical intimidation to carry out a protest is never acceptable. The open spaces on our campus are meant to be shared peacefully by all members of the University community.

As this morning’s message from President Alivisatos stated, the encampment on the Quad cannot continue, and we have called on the organizers to end it. In the meantime, it is vital for all members of our community to avoid actions that could undermine safety.

Sincerely,

Michele Rasmussen, Dean of Students in the University

Eric M. Heath, Associate Vice President for Safety & Security