'It's a fluid situation': Encampment prompts Wayne State to switch to remote operations

DETROIT — Wayne State University officials said Tuesday the school is shifting to remote operations effective immediately because the pro-Palestinian encampment is posing "an ongoing public safety issue."

The remote learning shift came after university leaders met over the weekend with pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who set up the encampment last week, and U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, called for the university president and Board of Governors to negotiate a settlement, while a university spokesman said the talks can't proceed until the camp is taken down. University spokesman Matt Lockwood confirmed Tuesday morning that the remote learning shift is "directly related to the encampment."

Asked if Wayne State had plans to clear the encampment, Lockwood said there are no immediate plans, but he added, "It's a fluid situation."

WSU board Chair Shirley Stancato could not be reached for comment. But board Vice Chair Bryan Barnhill II said the board has been receiving regular updates, reached a consensus on how to proceed and is "confident" in how the situation will be handled by police and President Kimberly Andrews Espy.

"We are confident in the ability of public safety officials to manage the situation, and we are confident in the president and her leadership team to effectively manage the situation with care and respect for all parties," Barnhill said.

Espy did not issue a Tuesday statement. But on Monday, in her latest statement, she wrote that she was writing after reading about the the last 24 hours in Rafah in Gaza, where 45 people, around half of them women and children, were killed in Sunday’s air strike by the Israeli military.

"I am reaching out tonight with a heavy heart," Espy wrote. "These events are truly tragic."

Espy wrote that the encampment occupants had cleared two walkways leading to State Hall so buildings could be accessed and Vice President for Government and Community Affairs Patrick Lindsey visited again with a group of the protesters and told them they "are trespassing and asked that the encampment be dismantled immediately."

"Part of that discussion, which you can watch here, involved a request to schedule a meeting with university leadership," Espy wrote. "After additional consultation, VP Lindsey returned to the encampment and offered a Tuesday meeting with university leadership if the encampment was removed by the end of the day Monday. This offer was a good faith attempt to find a path to dismantle the encampment. Though this offer was immediately declined, university leadership continues to encourage dialogue and meetings with all students to hear, discuss, and address important concerns."

WSU posted on the social media X that remote operations would remain in effect on its Detroit campus until further notice.

"With public safety concerns due to the fluid situation at the encampment, university leadership decided to shift to remote operations until further notice," Lockwood said via email on Tuesday. "We have told the organizers to remove the encampment several times and they have declined to do so."

He did not immediately respond to a question about whether police will clear the encampment. Police officials could not be reached for comment.

On Thursday, a pro-Palestinian group set up an encampment on campus. The encampment at Wayne State came two days after the removal of one at the University of Michigan that had been up since late April.

Lockwood noted that Espy has posted several messages about the situation.

"As president of Wayne State, I want you to know that I am hearing from many of you and from others on this challenging situation," Espy wrote on Sunday. "There are many perspectives, and I am listening."

Organizers of the pro-Palestine encampment at Wayne State told The Detroit News via email Friday that they plan to remain on campus until their demands are met. Among their demands is the university divest from Israel, Israeli companies or companies that provide Israel with military equipment.

Students had been told "through sources" to take down the encampment by 6:30 p.m. Monday and a small group of students would be given a meeting with Espy to talk about their demands, said Ridaa Khan, an undergraduate student and a protester. The students rejected it, preferring an "open bargaining" session on Wednesday with Espy to talk about divestment, Khan said, but there had been no response.

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(Staff Writer Hayley Harding contributed.)

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