Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy entrance to Portland State library

After being pushed out of the South Park Blocks on Thursday and Friday nights by Portland police, pro-Palestinian protesters occupied a portico at Millar Library on the Portland State University campus over the weekend, with permission from the university president.

On Sunday, the sounds of hammers and drills punctured the otherwise quiet downtown campus as protesters appeared to build items near the north entrance to the library, which had been defaced by graffiti. The south entrance, meanwhile, remained open to students, faculty and others, at the request of President Ann Cudd, who met with protesters Saturday.

Cudd’s response so far to the protesters stands in contrast to those of university presidents elsewhere in the country. The New York Times reported Sunday that campus protests against the war in Gaza have led to 800 arrests, from California to Massachusetts. Her response also shows that the location of a protest matters. The Park Blocks fall under the jurisdiction of Portland Parks & Recreation and city police, but the library entrance is PSU property.

Protesters have scored other concessions from PSU officials in their stand against the Israel-Hamas war. On Friday, Cudd announced PSU would reexamine its philanthropic relationship with Boeing after student activists criticized the company’s ties to the Israeli Air Force.

In an email to students and employees Sunday, PSU reiterated its support for “free expression and the exchange of ideas.”

The email added: “The university endeavors to draw a bright line between protecting freedom of speech and activities including discrimination, harassment, intimidation, property damage and assault. We expect all of our campus community members to conduct themselves in ways that follow student and professional codes of conduct. This includes following all anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies.”

No PSU student has been disciplined over their actions in connection with the protests, a spokesperson for the university said Sunday, when graffiti was also visible on library windows.

But campus officials also announced they will close the library Monday starting at noon in anticipation of a larger protest planned for the Park Blocks on Monday afternoon. Nearby university buildings will be accessible only to people with PSU badges.

— Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

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