After a prolonged 76-day protest at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus, the encampment for Palestine has packed up their last tent following an agreement with the University.

How it came to end

The encampment began to face significant challenges when, on July 12, a letter from Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Kent Anderson was sent to the protesters, stating the University felt the encampment posed an “unacceptable risk to students, staff and visitors to the campus”.

The letter included an eviction notice, ordering the removal of all tents, signage, and equipment by 5pm on Monday July 15 2024.

However, the protestors continued their demonstration, defying the University’s demands and maintaining their presence on campus.

According to the UoN Students for Palestine’s Instagram page, university security staff began to remove tents and equipment on the morning of Tuesday July 16. On the same day, a second letter sent by Professor Kent Anderson conveyed a more severe warning:

“If you refuse to pack up or leave the encampment you will be subject to disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the Student Conduct Rule. To be clear, any disciplinary action taken will not relate to your right to protest on campus, but rather your refusal to obey a reasonable direction provided by the University.”

Despite this warning, the encampment persisted, though the number of structures gradually diminished over the following weeks as University staff continued to dismantle them.

Packing up

The turning point came when an agreement was reached between the University and the protestors, which led to the voluntary removal of the final tent.

In a statement made on the group’s Instagram page, the protestors expressed optimism about the outcome.

“Just because we’re packing down, doesn’t mean we’re going away! We’re making great progress in our discussions with the university and are looking forward to the future of UoN Students for Palestine.”

Details of the agreement remain undisclosed, but the resolution marks a significant step forward in the ongoing dialogue between the University and the protestors.