November 14th, 2024 – At 6:12 this morning, a shuttle bus parked outside Cordiner Hall with the goal of taking members of the Board of Trustees to their meeting. The location of the meeting changed recently from Memorial Hall to Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA. 

This decision came in the face of recent student protests and vandalism outside Memorial Hall. The Wire independently confirmed that the Board of Trustees, faculty, and student representatives were notified of the location change by email yesterday morning, and were given the reasoning of “avoiding disruption.”

Shortly after, a group of students dressed in Keffiyehs and white t-shirts covered with red handprints arrived at the shuttle and held a die-in around the bus. Members of the Board who arrived at Cordiner Hall were told not to leave their cars. The pick-up location changed from outside Cordiner Hall to the Finch, a hotel on Main St, around 6:30 am, the time the Board was originally scheduled to depart.

Members of the Board relocated via shuttle and personal vehicle to the Three River Convention Center in Kennewick, WA. 

Three reporters from The Wire were denied entry from the Center. As of 8:40 this morning, these reporters have been threatened with police involvement by the event manager and head of Whitman Security, Greg Powell.

Wire reporters were ordered to leave the property by Event Manager Roni Gierke. Gierke handed reporters a copy of the Center’s protest policy in lieu of explaining her orders. When the Wire reporters clearly displayed their press credentials, Gierke insisted that the reporters leave. Gierke told reporters she was calling the police. 

Wire reporters left the Center before the police arrived. President Sarah Bolton has not responded to requests for comment regarding the college’s position on student press rights. 

The sidewalk around Cordiner was chalked with messages overnight, calling out the Board’s lack of response to students’ calls for divestment from military contractors.

Student protesters followed the bus to the Finch, where they lay in front of the entrance and on the pavement in front of the bus.

“It’s just a continuation of the Board of Trustees being unwilling to engage with students and its fear that we are going to escalate things….Something like a die-in is a relatively peaceful protest and it’s disappointing to see them unwilling to engage with us,” said Seth.*

Members of staff and the Board of Trustees have refused all comments and questions.

“We were lying silently on the ground and leaving a clear walkway for Trustees. Their complete avoidance of us demonstrates an unwillingness to engage with students’ anger at their refusal to create a committee for divestment. We will not stand by while they remain inactive and smug in the face of genocide,” said Tom.*

Whitman Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Security, Greg Powell, instructed the protesters to move off of the sidewalk and roads. This was the furthest extent to which protesters were directly addressed by members of the college. The protesters complied and Board members were able to board the bus. They departed for Kennewick at roughly 6:40 am.

Despite the Board’s avoidance, an anonymous protester said they felt their actions were effective.

“I think it speaks to the effectiveness of the student organizing, that they’re scared to show their faces on campus [because] they know that students are pissed off. I think it’s pretty clear that they feel quite a bit of shame about that, otherwise they would be here, y’know?” Regina said.* 

However, regardless of the effectiveness of the protest, students are still incredibly disappointed with the decision of the Board of Trustees to move their meeting an hour away from campus.

“There’s been no direct threat of anything that we’re going to impede their order of operations and their job. It’s sad on their part,” Regina said.*

“The fact that they would move their meeting an hour away from the college that they are theoretically representing just to avoid a conversation with students about a genocide which is affecting many of the students that they claim to represent the interests of is disgusting. The lengths that they will go to in order to avoid students, protect their bubble and prevent engagement in not just divestment but dialogue is truly shameful,” said Patrick.*

“Free Palestine. Divest now,” said Seth.*

This is a breaking story and it will be updated continuously.

*Seth, Tom, Regina, and Patrick are all pseudonyms used to protect the source’s anonymity.