MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — In Middletown, Wesleyan University students voted to pass a referendum on divestment, disclosure, academic boycott and amnesty.
More than two weeks since students set up camp, the “Wesleyan Liberated Zone” is the last remaining college encampment in Connecticut.
“Staying here, and staying steadfast is really the least we can do for for Palestinians who have asked and called upon us to divest,” said Rowan Roudebush, a first-year student.
Campus protests spread across the U.S. and the world, with students calling on their universities to disclose and divest.
“We have alumni support, we have graduation coming up, we have people who are committed to being here until we get divestment,” Roudebush said.
Organizers say 150 tents remain at Wesleyan, as students are standing strong, wanting to show support for people in Gaza.
“We've been here 15 days, all in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are undergoing some of the most horrific things we've seen happen to anyone,” continued Roudebush.
That solidarity turned into action over the weekend, as Wesleyan students passed a referendum on divestment, disclosure, academic boycott and amnesty.
“We had more students than anyone on the WSA has ever witnessed vote on a student referendum for divestment and it was overwhelmingly support,” Roudebush explained.
Wesleyan Students for Justice in Palestine, which has been organizing the encampment, says 57% of the student body participated in the referendum vote. 86% voted in favor of divestment, 88% for disclosure, 86% for amnesty for students faculty and staff, and 57% voted to support academic boycott.
While Roudebush says the student referendum itself doesn’t hold that much power, they believe it sends a message to the university.
“It was mostly a way of showing the board of trustees that we have mass support, not even just on campus,” they said.
Roudebush said students are in ongoing talks and negotiations with representatives from the board of trustees and will remain until the school commits to a process of divestment.
“We're not going to move and we're going to keep fighting until we get divestment,” they added.
Wesleyan University officials did not immediately reply back to a request for comment.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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