Video by Andrew Goff.

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One full week since the start of the pro-Palestine student occupation and protest at Cal Poly Humboldt, the campus was fairly quiet Monday morning.

“It’s really chill,” Savana Robinson of Redwood News told the Outpost via phone. “There’s really nothing going on.” She added that the mutual aid kitchen, which as been feeding protesters on campus all week, remains open and is feeding “everyone” who stops by.

Multiple law enforcement vehicles and officers were milling about outside the main protest perimeter earlier today. Siemens Hall remains occupied and barricaded [CLARIFICATION: We can’t confirm that there’s anyone inside], and the surrounding area, which has also been barricaded, is still filled with tents, protest signs and graffiti.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Eureka Police Department, University Police Department and California State University [UPDATE: and Ferndale Police Department] have all been seen on campus in the past 24 hours.

In the pre-dawn hours Monday, an X (formerly Twitter) user identified as an “organizer, student, propagandist” posted footage of activists “erecting a tree sit 60 feet up in solidarity for a free Gaza & end of empire.”

On Sunday evening, the board of the California Faculty Union’s Humboldt chapter issued a message to colleagues outlining ways to take action this week “in order to support student safety, and the reopening campus.” The announcement also lists a schedule for a “solidarity march and workshops” this afternoon:

Hello Colleagues,

We appreciate how many people we have connected with over the last week. Our power is in our collective resistance!  We have 3 items that you can take action on this week in order to support student safety, and the reopening campus. Please share the following widely with your staff and student contacts.

1.) Participate in Phone and Email Campaign Continue to help put pressure on our legislators and the chancellor’s office. The following link has numbers, email addresses, and sample scripts. Please take a moment to make a phone call! Email & Call Campaign, Faculty - Staff - Community

2.) Solidarity March and Workshops Monday April 29th from 2pm-7pm CFA will be hosting an afternoon gathering for faculty, staff, students and community members to march the perimeter of the campus.
Let’s demand safety for students on campus, that OUR university is re-opened, that the administration commits to de-escalating the current situation on campus, and that CPH students can celebrate their accomplishments at graduation.

Please bring a sign, water, a snack, and wear layers.

  • 2 pm: Walk and Chant. Meet at LK Wood and 14th Street
  • 3 pm: Workshops
  • 4 pm: Music (bring your instruments!)
  • 5 pm: Workshops
  • 6 pm: Food drop
3) Participate in Decolonizing Economics 2024: Earth Day to May Day (May 1-3). CFA is a proud sponsor of this timely online summit, which serves as a platform for addressing the crises of our time and connects directly to the protests at Cal Poly Humboldt. Participants will have access to thought-provoking discussions and presentations aimed at catalyzing systemic change, and gain knowledge for transforming our learning, working, and living conditions. Registration is on a sliding scale, which means you pay what you can. If you are able to do so, the summit requests a contribution of $25-100 so that they can pay a living wage to organizers, and provide a stipend to presenters. If you can not afford the registration fee, please follow the link at the top registration page to the no-barrier registration option.

Find out more and register: https://decolonizingeconomicssummit.org/

In union, CFA Humboldt Eboard

On Sunday evening, the university released its latest campus alert, offering to talk to any protesters willing to have “productive and respectful dialogue.” 

The hard closure of campus remains in effect through May 10. The annual spring commencement ceremony, typically held in Redwood Bowl, remains scheduled for the following day, May 11, though it’s not clear if it will proceed as usual. 

The CPH statement below says, “The University is planning for various scenarios to help students and families celebrate this important milestone.” 

Logistical information and more can be found below.

Here’s the full statement. 

CAL POLY HUMBOLDT ALERT - This has been a challenging time for all of us. The safety and security of our entire campus community are at the forefront of every decision being made. Since Monday, the University’s goal has always been to bring a peaceful end to the occupation. The University continues to talk to anyone willing to have productive and respectful dialogue. 

[See the University’s response to the protestors’ demands at humboldt.edu/emergency.]

The individuals who are occupying Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East, or illegally camping around those facilities, are urged to leave the campus peacefully now. Leaving voluntarily will be considered as a possible mitigating factor in University conduct processes and may reduce the severity of sanctions imposed. This does not, however, eliminate responsibility for any potential conduct or criminal charges. 
Campus leaders are offering to escort individuals who are concerned for their safety off campus.

A hard closure of campus is now being enforced through May 10, and individuals are prohibited from entering or being on campus without permission. Work and academic instruction will be remote.

There have been requests by many across campus to participate in decision-making related to the recent events, and we are grateful for your desire to help us navigate this difficult time. Once the situation has further stabilized, the University will host opportunities for conversations with the campus community in order to ensure we are moving forward and healing as a campus.  

Housing and Dining: Student residents are allowed to come and go from campus and access Dining facilities, and have been emailed details. Residents and authorized staff are permitted to be in the residence halls and dining facilities areas. Residence halls will remain open to residents and housing operations will remain the same through the end of the semester.

The J, College Creek Marketplace, and the Cupboard will continue to operate during their regular business hours. Residents with meal plans will maintain access to these locations for their dining needs. Student residents should refer to the email that was sent to them. 

Access to Campus: University Division leadership or supervisors will email personnel who are authorized to access campus to provide instructions on the check-in procedure for accessing campus, which will be effective Monday morning. Authorized personnel are approved based on their inability to maintain business continuity in a fully remote environment. 

Commencement: Many people have asked about Commencement. The University is planning for various scenarios to help students and families celebrate this important milestone. 

Technology Support

  • Computer pickup: Information has been emailed to staff and faculty about a process for computer pick up to facilitate remote work. 
  • Laptop Loaners for students: 
    • A limited number of loaner laptops are available for students who need to complete instructional related work.  
    • Students must schedule an appointment with the Information Technology Services department in advance by sending an email to help@humboldt.edu with the subject: Student Loaner Laptop Request, and including the following information: software needed, description of use case, contact phone number and preferred pickup time (between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday)
    • ITS will respond with a specific time confirmation and meeting instructions.
    • Please bring your Humboldt ID, we cannot get you a laptop without it.

Health and Counseling Services

  • Students: Student Health & Wellbeing Services is open for telehealth visits during regular operating hours. Please email health@humboldt.edu for medical appointments or email humboldtcaps@humboldt.edu for counseling appointments. TimelyCare is available 24/7 for both acute and scheduled medical and counseling sessions as well as health coaching and other resources.
  • Employees: Staff or faculty seeking additional support may utilize the Employee Assistance Program, LifeMatters, offered through Empathia 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Events

  • The University is working to relocate athletics events and activities. Coaches will share information with athletes.
  • All other on-campus events have been canceled through May 10. If you had catering services scheduled for your event, all services will be canceled with no fees applied.
  • Off-campus events are still continuing as scheduled.

Off-campus academic activities: Buses will not be transporting students to field trips, but any activities such as academic internships or field placements that can be conducted safely off campus can continue.

Children’s Center: The Center is open during regular operating hours.

FAQs: General information and frequently asked questions can be found at humboldt.edu/emergency/faq 

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Cal Poly Humboldt News & Information news@humboldt.edu

Please visit humboldt.edu/emergency for more updates.

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