Tufts administrators wait out campus protesters as graduation looms

After arrests of more than 200 anti-war protesters on two Boston-area campuses last week, leaders at Tufts University in Medford continued to wait out an impasse with students in some two dozen tents on the quad there Monday.

At the encampment, students were all but silent Monday at midday, working quietly in their tents or talking in small groups. They declined to be quoted by name, with some saying they feared harassment. As a group they issued a brief statement: "All eyes on Palestine. All eyes on Gaza."

While there was buzz among other students on campus about the protests, at the Tufts Hillel no one would speak to a reporter seeking an interview.

The quiet on campus comes in contrast to students speaking more freely at other schools in recent days about their opposition to the war in Gaza. The wave of student protests across the country has raised concerns about limits on free speech. Academic and political leaders are walking a tightrope, saying it's important to protect First Amendment rights, at the same time they're condemning alleged hate speech and looking to clear campus encampments.

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu reportedly canceled a planned appearance at Harvard University after student groups withdrew from the event following Wu's decision last week to send police to clear an encampment at Emerson College. That action led to 118 arrests.

In a statement, Wu said the event had been long-scheduled at the request of student organizations. Regarding the cancellation, she said, "I’d fully planned to engage in discussion with students about ongoing events and news, and to welcome their feedback, but I respect their preferences to use our time elsewhere and wish everyone well with the end of the school year.”

In a statement, Tufts said it has delayed some preparations for its commencement, which is scheduled for May 19, "But now the encampment must end, ideally peacefully and voluntarily." Tufts said its Student Life staff would reach out to protesters Monday to plan for the end of the encampment "in the next few days."

Tufts officials say they won’t meet with demonstration organizers until students take down their tents. In a statement, Tufts said "much of Friday’s demonstration was peaceful," but added that many actions violated university policies.

"Demonstrators entered a classroom, blocked paths, and defaced, stickered, and scrawled obscene language on buildings throughout the campus," the statement said.

The school said it's investigating any complaints against demonstrators.