Thread by @stevejfox

We're just about to start the @UMassAmherst Special Faculty Senate Meeting to address the campus protests on May 7. I'm hoping to live tweet as much as I can. Chancellor Reyes is here along with about a half dozen administrators and media relations folks. (Thread.)

@UMassAmherst Reyes says he is "deeply committed" to free speech and assembly.

@UMassAmherst Says the response to campus protests was not about free speech but about campus safety. That comment draws chuckles from the audience and a glare from Reyes.

@UMassAmherst Reyes is spending time recounting what happened (and what everyone knows already.)

@UMassAmherst Reyes again quoting the university's "land-use" policy and saying demonstrators were violating it by constructing the encampment on the South Lawn.

@UMassAmherst Reyes is also citing protestors who were "not members of the campus." Also known as the "outside agitators" theory that has been around for decades.

@UMassAmherst A second glare from Reyes after chuckles from the audience when he said his obligation is to the safety of "everyone" on campus. It would appear the chancellor does not like voices of dissent.

@UMassAmherst Reyes says "something changed" between the first encampment coming down voluntarily and the second encampment coming down via force. Doesn't elaborate on the "something" but asks why the encampment was needed.

@UMassAmherst Reyes: "We are all going to have to take responsibility in developing solutions."

@UMassAmherst Reyes spoke for 20 minutes before passing the mic to a member of the Demonstration Response Team.

@UMassAmherst The auditorium for this presentation holds roughly 500 people and is currently Standing Room Only.

@UMassAmherst The administrators were given 30 minutes to speak. We're now at 34 minutes. Not much new here. Just recounting what happened.

@UMassAmherst UMass Campus Police Chief Parham now speaking, giving law enforcement perspective. He is again repeating administrator and law enforcement concerns about campus safety. The irony is not escaping any in the audience.

@UMassAmherst Someone in audience raises point of order that administration is at 37 minutes when they were allocated 30 minutes.

@UMassAmherst Parham is allowed to continue despite some concerns over administrators eating up time they were not allocated.

@UMassAmherst Parham on use of force during arrests: Says UMPD's goal is to de-escalate. Says a "couple" of arrests involved "use of force." Lots of coughing in the audience.

@UMassAmherst Parham: "My goal was zero arrests." He says chanting of "You don't have enough" prompted a call-out for additional police, including state police.

@UMassAmherst Parham on numbers of police on campus: "We ended up needing those numbers to be as safe as possible." "There were definitely non-UMass folks in the crowd." More references to "outside agitators."

@UMassAmherst Administrators spend 45 minutes on their "presentation."

@UMassAmherst First question focuses on negotiation and whether the chancellor considered taking down encampments over time. A non-answer from Reyes.

@UMassAmherst 2. Question about whether chancellor had unilateral powers to approve student demands. Reyes says he doesn't have unilateral power.

@UMassAmherst 3. Reasoning for calling the police: Reyes decides to read from previously stated remarks. Says he was doing "everything he could do" for campus safety. Again mentions "outside agitators."

@UMassAmherst 4. Question about timeline of police being requested to campus. Parham says state police arrived around 4 p.m. at his request.

@UMassAmherst 5. Question on charges of trespassing and who decided to file trespassing charges. Parham says dispersal orders were given between 7-7:30.

@UMassAmherst 6. Use of violence question. Were any instructions given by administrators on use of violence? Lots of coughing from audience on Parham's answer that not using violence is a goal 365 days a year.

@UMassAmherst 7. Police accountability question surrounding injuries of protestors. Parham: All arrestees were asked if they had injuries. Supervisors were also on seen as well as members of Amherst Fire Department. Said arrestees can file complaints if they want.

@UMassAmherst 8. Civil disobedience vs. civil unrest. Reyes: There are guidelines provided by university for civil disobedience. "Policies on conduct are very clear."

@UMassAmherst 9. Viewpoint neutrality: How would campus policies be applied if right wing group set up encampment?

@UMassAmherst 10. Protestor demands. Could arrests have been avoided. Reyes: No.

@UMassAmherst 11. To Reyes: Consider apologizing prior to commencement? Answer focuses on keeping campus safe.

@UMassAmherst 12. Fallout question on campus reputation. Reyes: we have shared governance and need shared accountability. "We need to look at the policies we have and figure out what is acceptable."

@UMassAmherst 13. Fallout: Changes in policing? Parham: No. "The safety of our community is our No. 1 priority." We know that everyone is not feeling as safe as others on campus.

@UMassAmherst Fallout: Independent committee to evaluate procedures: Reyes: I hope to.

@UMassAmherst Lessons learned? Increased visibility, more engagement with faculty senate and SGA. "We need to look more at our policies." "For a university like UMass, it's not focused on restorative justice and I need to focus on that deeply." Keep stressing that change takes time.

@UMassAmherst Now moving to individual questions from faculty senators.

@UMassAmherst Question about riot police and statement that bringing riot police incites violence. How will administration repair damage to trust. Reyes: Hoping to form a group that includes faculty, students and staff. Keeps stressing need for participation.

@UMassAmherst Question about having rules vs. enforcing rules, centering on university's land use policy and concern that police were called too soon. Is speed or police arrival something to consider for future? Reyes: Do we want to be a campus that allows encampments?

@UMassAmherst More questions on police response, nothing that police were called during negotiations. "When you call police you invite violence." Questioner asks if statement was prepared in the event a student was killed. Parham: No.

@UMassAmherst Questioner notes that encampments have been allowed on campus in the past. "At none of these points were police called." Questioner cites students being injured during protests and arrests. "How does any of this have to do with keeping the campus safe."

@UMassAmherst Parham questions sourcing on claims of excessive source and injuries. Despite the video of police during the protests, he says "we haven't seen it" when referring to accusations of police brutality.

@UMassAmherst Questioner: Asks about Reyes desire for "debate over confrontation." Reyes: There was a lot of conversation and negotiations.

@UMassAmherst Why was Mullins Center used a place to detain arrestees? Parham: "Needed a holing place temporarily....our police station could not hold 134 people." Says again: "Our goal was zero arrests."

@UMassAmherst "Holding."

@UMassAmherst Faculty member who had daughter injured why police took action against peaceful protestors? Also mentions "mythical people who were there to wage violence." How will your actions affect UMass recruitment? Also been told from alums that they will not give.

@UMassAmherst Reyes: "We received letter and emails from people who want to be on campus where laws are followed. There's not just one side to this." Parham: Not aware of any taser or baton use.

@UMassAmherst One senator said her question was not answered, received applause. She clarifies, says students were chased with tasers and batons, not attacked. Says her daughter was there....eyewitness accounts of use of zip ties and other bad behavior by police.

@UMassAmherst One senator is telling the story of how her daughter was treated and Parham says he doesn't know of the police abuses her daughter was witness too. Feels like the "alternate versions of reality" has descended on the room.

@UMassAmherst Reyes keeps talking about the need for more faculty involvement on campus policies.

@UMassAmherst How much did police involvement cost? Parham: Don't have the numbers yet. Parham on riot gear: Says police had on regular uniform or "softer" uniform but did wear protective helmets. "Officers were concerned about being hit in the head."

@UMassAmherst Questioner: "After the police action we feel less safe." Another question about the message being sent to prospective students. Reyes: "We do have to work on how we will keep our campus safe. We want to have a group of faculty, students and staff to look at this."

@UMassAmherst Questioner asks about anti-semitic comments by protestors. Reyes talks again about engagement.

@UMassAmherst Questioner asks about police taking their own video. Parham: State police have body cams but also UMPD were documenting officer actions.

@UMassAmherst Question: Why did arrests continue after tents were removed? What was accomplished in doing this? If the answer is nothing, why not apologize?

@UMassAmherst Parham: charges were failure to disperse and trespass. Reyes: Thought it was best for the campus to do what we did. He did not address question on apologizing.

@UMassAmherst Asks again about arrests continuing after tents taken down. Why were all present threatened with arrest? Parham: For those who remained, they were charged with failure to disperse and trespassing. Parham says people were still "going at" the officers. "Still pretty tense."

@UMassAmherst Another question: Faculty member starts breaking down when asking "how are we supposed to have hope...we're asked to be revolutionary....I'm not sure I want to be UMass if it's going to be colored by events that make people feel unsafe...."

@UMassAmherst Reyes: "We are going to have to have difficult conversations together." "I believe in UMass, I believe in all of you." Told students that "your advocacy is raising awareness." Says he wants to protect freedom of speech within guidelines.

@UMassAmherst "If we continue to talk to each other we will get there."

@UMassAmherst Meeting starts at 1, ends at 2:48 with protestors chanting about divesting.

@UMassAmherst UMass, like many universities, is a study in contrast. On one side of the street you have this;

@UMassAmherst On the other side of the street you have this:

A couple of takeaways from the Special Faculty Senate meeting: No apologies or admitting mistakes were made from Reyes or Parham. Not unexpected but they were each given the opportunity to say mistakes were made.

Parham's refusal to acknowledge police abuses was unsurprising. But given the video from May 7 (the camera doesn't lie) and the emotional comments from one faculty member who spoke about injuries to her daughter and friends, the "alternate views of reality" theme was present.

Reyes did say that the land-use policies that resulted in the university and police taking the action against the protestors would be examined. But he admitted that making any policy changes would take time. So, TBD on that.

Many of the deeper, existential questions weren't really addressed. What did you accomplish? Unsurprisingly, not really answered.

Overall, the administrators stuck to the script and many in the audience were....what's the word I'm looking for? Skeptical? Unhappy? Distrustful? Unsure of the future? Pick one.

And student protestors were up and out of their seats chanting at the end. Faculty and administrators walked out and were immediately greeted by about 50 protestors, including one protestor in a small pup tent.