The Encampment Has Ended

To students, faculty, and staff,

I am writing to let you know that the encampment that began in Smith Union on Thursday night has ended, with all of the students having left voluntarily.

I know that these have been a difficult few days for our community. As I said in my note this morning, student activism at Bowdoin has a long and admirable history, and it is crucial that our students feel empowered to fight for what they feel is right. However, we require that this activism abides by our policies governing building use and student behavior. These rules are not symbolic. They are designed to ensure that members of the community can feel welcome and safe in every space on campus and have fair access to those spaces. The encampment in Smith Union violated these policies and the students who participated will face our disciplinary process.

These past few days have been stressful and unsettling. We heard from some members of our community that these events have left them feeling vulnerable. We take these concerns very seriously as a community that is devoted to a safe and welcoming environment for all. Please reach out to class deans or Human Resources as appropriate or contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance.

In addition, I know that many have been upset by their lack of access to Smith Union. The College made the decision to close the building to all for safety reasons. At other encampments around the country, outsiders have played a significant role in the escalation of events on college campuses. We were deeply worried about that possibility on our campus and what it could bring, so we made the difficult but necessary decision to close the building as campus leadership, faculty, and staff colleagues worked around the clock to bring the situation safely to an end.

We are a community of people with different beliefs, different identities, and different life experiences—that is our strength. I hope we lean into supporting each other across those differences. I also know that many people on campus are developing opportunities that will help us connect, process, and engage. I hope you know too that my door is always open to meet with community members who are affected by these events and who would like to talk.

Sincerely,

Safa