A sit-in on the Texas State University campus ended after about 29 hours with no promises from the administration to meet protesters’ demands.
The sit-in on the fourth floor of the LBJ Student Center began Thursday evening in protest of the arrest of four students in the Quad on Wednesday. The arrests followed an incident in which a student wearing a “Make America Great Again” or “MAGA” hat approached students protesting the scheduled march by the right-wing Texas Nomads SAR.
“The incident that led to the arrests began when one student took a hat off another student’s head and fled,” a statement from University Police Chief Laurie Clouse reads. “Police officers quickly interceded and directed the student to drop the stolen property. The student refused multiple directives and was then detained with the intention of being given a ticket for theft. The student was later arrested after providing a false identity to the police.
“Another student ran to the officers during this incident and began to interfere. After refusing to comply with the officers’ directions, this student was arrested for interference with public duties. When the students were escorted into the police department, other students followed and one additional student was arrested in the police department lobby for interference. A fourth student was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct outside the police department.”
The students were taken to the Hays County Jail and booked on misdemeanor charges ranging from resisting arrest to disorderly conduct/language. Most of the students were released on personal recognizance bonds; the student charged with disorderly conduct paid a $99 fine.
A press release from Resistance TXST, the group that organized the sit-in, said the students were arrested “while peacefully protesting threats of organized white supremacist presence on campus. Two of the students arrested are vocal, queer students of color that have been previously targeted by the university administration.”
Though the students have been released, Resistance TXST started a sit-in at 6 p.m. Thursday and made a list of demands to present to the Texas State administration.
The list of demands includes:
1. Handling of student conduct issues by Dean of Students, NOT by San Marcos Police
- Students should not be transferred from the University Police Department to county jail for misdemeanor charges;
- Creation of a student task force to assist in handling student conduct issues and non-violent offenses;
2. Mandatory sensitivity training for University Police
- UPD should be trained in de-escalation tactics as opposed to brute force;
- UPD should be trained in how to recognize and overcome biases regarding minority students, including but not limited to students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities;
3. The Addition of a cultural diversity requirement to the general core curriculum
- This includes the expansion of diverse course options under current core requirements, including but not limited to, “Language, Philosophy, and Culture,” and “Advance Literature Electives”;
4. The creation of a campus workforce by the student government to protect workers rights throughout the university.
A follow-up press release from the student protesters states, “Several faculty allies informed students that higher administrators threatened to arrest any students remaining in the Student Center after midnight on May 2. Yet, at their 18th hour of occupation, no formal notice has been given to the occupying students to vacate.”
Kennadi Sneed holds aloft a sign advocating for student workers during the press conference.
Several members of the administration met with sit-in participants Friday afternoon, but Resistance TXST said the meeting ended without a commitment from administrators.
In a press release issued Friday night at 11 p.m., the group stated, “After two hours of discussion, nothing was resolved, as administrators refused to agree in writing that they would uphold the ideas for change on campus that were spoken about. Though the administrators agreed that change is needed and even agreed on several measures to improve the safety of minority students on campus, the fact that they will not put in writing anything discussed makes it nearly impossible to hold them accountable. Still, we fight on.”
The administration’s response
In the wake of the arrests, Texas State University President Denise Trauth issued a video statement about the events that occurred on campus on Wednesday.
“I think I should start by saying the safety of our students is our highest priority,” she said, “and at this time of the semester, when we’re bringing it to a close and students are getting ready for their final exams, it’s very important that we have a safe and secure environment where students can focus on their studies.”
That said, Trauth acknowledged the underlying tensions on campus.
“It’s a very serious issue,” she said. “And that’s why I’m working with my leadership team, I’m working with the Council on Inclusive Excellence, with our chief diversity officer, to address these tensions and to come up with things we can do here at Texas State to lower them.”
The statement from Clouse, the UPD chief, noted that the incident – including UPD’s response – was still under investigation.
“Although the investigation is ongoing, the initial review indicates that the officers involved acted appropriately with the goal of preventing further escalation. When a theft occurred in plain view, they were right to act,” she wrote. “I understand it’s difficult to watch the arrests on social media, however, the officers were there to protect all of our students. We expect our students to obey the law.
“After any significant incident, the department conducts an after-action review and will do so in this case. It provides us an opportunity to review our actions and identify any areas where improvements can be made.”
The press release from Resistance TXST announcing the end of the sitin stated that several students involved in the protest have been summoned to appear before the dean of students for “failing to comply with a directive” from a university officer and entering university buildings or facilities or using university equipment or resources without authorization.
“These charges hold no authority, because students were never issued a formal notice that they had to leave the Student Center,” the press release states.
Students chose to end the sit-in “to avoid any further criminal or academic consequences, as well as to avoid any further endangerment by the severe weather” and will now focus on passing legislation in the Student Government.
