CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — UNC-Chapel Hill is one of the thousands of campuses across the country protesting Israel's attacks on Gaza.
Students have gathered by the dozens for the last week on campus.
During a Faculty Executive Committee meeting Wednesday, Members discussed that many UNC students suffered from concussions after police tried breaking up the protests out here Tuesday.
The committee also said a Duke University professor was mentioned as having suffered a dislocated shoulder.
"I do feel this is a tragedy all around," UNC faculty Francesca Dillman Carpentier shared. "This is a very difficult and complex situation."
A grad student was also banned from the campus for two years. However, some members of the committee were unaware of the school's decision.
"This is yet another collective pain and trauma we've experienced as a community." UNC faculty member Beth Moracoo added.
After protestors were seen bringing down the American flag and replacing it with a Palestinian flag at the campus Tuesday, there is a police presence on campus patrolling the area to keep the peace.
There's also now a fence around the flag pole.
The demonstrators are calling on UNC to cut financial ties with Israel.
Several were arrested early Tuesday morning as police cleared the encampment.
It was said the school's chancellor also came out here to address the group.
One student said he supports the student's right to protest as long as it stays peaceful.
"That's one of the reasons I chose UNC because of their support of freedom of speech for both sides of the aisle. Obviously, you don't want things to get violent. Unfortunately, they stopped it before things got violent, but the chancellor sent an email saying the First Amendment is a big part of the North Carolina constitution. So, I support the freedom of gatherings to protest and the freedom of the press. I don't want things getting violent," PHD student Will Rawlings said.
UNC-Chapel Hill Interim Chancellor Roberts and Provost Clemens released a statement about the recent demonstrations on the university's campus.
For the last several months, we have spoken regularly and respectfully with the demonstrators on our campus, consistently supporting their right to assemble and express their views. We have also clearly communicated the University's long-standing policies on the use of shared public spaces. We have been clear that students and community members can assemble and make their voices heard, but University policies must be followed.
We respect and support the rights of peaceful protesters. While anyone – including students, faculty and staff – may gather and exercise their rights to free speech, state law and the Board of Governors policy prohibit disruption of University operations. This commitment to free speech and the policies for demonstrating are shared at the beginning of each academic semester.
During events in recent weeks, the student demonstrators abided by our policies. That changed Sunday evening when protesters – including outside activists – backtracked on their commitment to comply with these policies, including trespassing into classroom buildings overnight. This group has now made it clear they will no longer even consider our requests to abide by University policies and have ended our attempts at constructive dialogue.
We must consider the safety of all of our students, faculty and staff, as well as visitors to this campus. Our students are preparing for final exams and end-of-year activities, including graduation, and we will continue to promote an educational environment where they can do so safely and without disruption.
By 6 a.m. today the protesters assembled in Polk Place must remove all tents, tables, and other items and depart from the area. Failure to follow this order to disperse will result in consequences including possible arrest, suspension from campus and, ultimately, expulsion from the university, which may prevent students from graduating.
State law and the Board of Governors policy prohibit disruption of University operations.
The committee also believes they need to hold the administration accountable for the harm that was done during the protests.