Encampment on Palace Green, Durham City

Published on 21 May 2024

University colleagues have continued regular dialogue with students who have set up an encampment on Palace Green.

Since the camp was established on Friday 10 May, University colleagues have met frequently with students and enquired about their welfare, safety, and security, which is always our paramount concern.

The University has taken appropriate action to address concerns, and has outlined expected behaviours to protect the rights of others, including staff, students, and visitors, to go about their business safely, unimpeded, and free from intimidation, duress, or harassment.

An opportunity to listen

On Tuesday 21 May, Dr Shaid Mahmood, our Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion), on behalf of the University, met with students at the encampment, in what was the first meeting between Dr Mahmood and the students.

This was an opportunity to hear the students’ thinking about their demands and the weight they attach to them. The conversation lasted almost two hours, covering many topics. We are now working through the detail of matters raised. As part of the conversation, Dr Mahmood discussed the support we are offering to Palestinian students and how we might contribute to higher education being rebuilt following the conflict.

Dr Mahmood committed to communicating further with students by the end of this week, and we will share this communication via our website.

Supporting freedom of speech

Dr Mahmood said: “The University supports the right to lawful protest and freedom of speech where it is done in a safe and respectful way, which we have outlined to the students at the encampment.

“Since Friday 10 May, colleagues have met frequently with the students, to speak with them and to hear any concerns. This has helped us take important measures to ensure their welfare, safety, and security.

“We fully understand and respect that many of our students and staff feel appalled and concerned about the events in Gaza and Israel as the conflict continues. We appreciate they feel very strongly about expressing their views.

“From the outset, the University has expressed distress and mounting concern about the situation as detailed in our statement and communications.

“Today I sought to listen and understand more about the students’ perspectives and their position as they continue to protest. We appreciate the students’ work to ensure the welfare, safety, and security of those involved in the encampment are considered, as well as the Durham Students’ Union engagement on this. We welcome the opportunity for continued, open conversation with all our students.”

Previous statements

Published on 11 May 2024

We did not receive prior notice of the encampment but we fully support and respect the right to lawful protest. We never waver from our commitment to uphold freedom of speech within the law. Our initial focus this weekend has been on the wellbeing of the students involved, and we have been in dialogue with the protestors about this. 

As a University, our top priority is the wellbeing and safety of all our students and staff, strengthening campus relations and striving for community cohesion of our diverse global community. This continues to drive our responses. We appreciate efforts to sustain this by the Students’ Union. 

We take seriously the concerns of all our students. We have from the outset been engaging actively with students across different communities and continue to do so. 

As a University, we have repeatedly expressed our deepest hope that a way will be found for a peaceful resolution to the conflict as soon as possible. We also hope for the end to the violence and the safe return of the remaining hostages. 

Published on 10 May 2024

From the outset of events in the Middle East our priority has been to support all students and staff and our wider community, to ensure their health, safety and wellbeing and to do everything we can to ensure good community relations and the cohesion of our diverse global community.

We have continually expressed distress and mounting concern at the appalling and huge number of civilian casualties and humanitarian suffering experienced by the people of Gaza, the appalling attacks on Israel and the plight of Israeli hostages.  

We have closely monitored the situation and provided direct and bespoke support to all students affected, including our Palestinian and Jewish students. 

The University supports and respects the right to lawful protest. We are committed to consistently and robustly upholding freedom of speech within the law, which includes the right of students and staff to protest safely and respectfully, as set out in the University’s Code of Practice on Freedom of Expression.   

The right to lawful protest must however be balanced between the rights of protesters to assert their views on the one hand and, on the other, the rights of others (students, staff and visitors) to go about their business safely, unimpeded and free from intimidation, duress and harassment.  

We are a diverse, global community with many differing views and perspectives. While individuals and groups within the University community may express lawful views on any issue, it is expected that this is done in a safe and respectful way.

We do not tolerate any form of prejudice or discrimination, including antisemitism or anti-Muslim hatred and will take swift action. We condemn in the strongest possible terms any incidents targeting individuals or groups for their religious, political, or cultural beliefs. 

We have stringent policies and processes in place to deal with any incidents reported to us, and any criminal matters will be reported to Police.     

As a University, we express our deepest hope that a way will be found for a peaceful resolution to the conflict as soon as possible. We also hope for the end of violence and the safe return of the remaining hostages.      

We have a published statement online and detailed FAQs for our students and staff which are updated regularly.  These affirm our support for students, staff and our wider community.