Smith Union Encampment

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Smith Union encampment (February 6–10, 2025) has raised questions about what took place, the College’s response, and how the community can move forward. The following information is meant to acknowledge that this has been a difficult experience for the campus community while also providing some clarity about what happened and why. (Last updated on 2/27/25)

When did the Smith Union encampment begin?
What other communication took place between the College and the students in the encampment?
How did the Smith Union encampment end?
Why did the College close Smith Union during the encampment?
What rules or policies were violated by the encampment?
Were members of the public involved with the protests?
What about rumors that the College switched off utilities in the space to force students to leave?
Did students and staff who were scheduled to work in the union lose any pay when the building was closed?
Will students involved in the encampment face disciplinary action? 
Did the College negotiate a deal to end the encampment?
What resources is Bowdoin providing?
What’s next? How do we move forward?

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Can the College share additional information about the sanctions for individual students?

While federal regulations prohibit the College from providing details about individual disciplinary cases, we wanted to provide some clarification about our processes. If a student is placed on immediate temporary suspension, they are removed from the college campus and are unable to attend classes pending the outcome of a formal hearing. In most cases, this temporary period lasts between seven and fourteen days. At the conclusion of a formal hearing, students found responsible for violations of college policy face permanent sanctions. There are active investigations and conduct cases underway related to the encampment.

There have been some questions about the disciplinary process based on social media posts made by some students who were involved in the encampment. While we cannot provide any specific detail about individual cases, we do want to clarify that there has been incomplete information shared on social media.

What is the current status of Bowdoin’s Students for Justice in Palestine?

The College has placed Bowdoin Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) on temporary suspension. SJP has the opportunity to present information in response to charges before a final decision on the group’s status is issued by the College. While on temporary suspension, SJP will be unable to engage in any activities—that includes postering under the name Bowdoin Students for Justice in Palestine and reserving space on campus.

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When did the Smith Union encampment begin?

The encampment began on the evening of Thursday, February 6, when a group of students set up tents and signage inside Smith Union immediately following an outdoor protest rally organized by Bowdoin SJP. An estimated fifty students and eleven tents occupied the space at the start of the encampment. Bowdoin safety and security staff arrived on the scene shortly thereafter, followed later in the evening by staff from the Division of Student Affairs, who advised the students about the college policies they were violating and the potential consequences and urged them to remove the encampment.

What other communication took place between the College and the students in the encampment?

There was near constant communication between the College and the students in Smith Union over the course of the four days, as campus leadership, members of the faculty, safety and security staff, and other staff shuttled in and out of the space in an effort to bring the encampment to an end. President Zaki met with the students on two occasions.

How did the Smith Union encampment end?

On Monday, February 10, 2025, the remaining students participating in the encampment left Smith Union voluntarily. In a message to the campus community announcing an end to the encampment, President Zaki acknowledged that these past few days have been stressful and upsetting, that the College had heard from some members of the community that these events have left them feeling vulnerable, and that the College was taking these concerns very seriously. President Zaki’s community message can be found here.

Why did the College close Smith Union during the encampment?

The College made the difficult but necessary decision to close Smith Union for safety reasons. Several factors influenced our decision:

• After students issued a press release about the encampment, we saw interest on social media from both supporters and opponents of the protest, with some outside groups indicating that they planned to come to campus.
• From what we learned from encampments at other campuses last spring, we knew that non-community members joining the encampments could change the nature of those activities, making it much harder to keep things safe and manageable.
• As a small community, we rely on our dedicated safety and security team to handle many responsibilities. Adding the task of managing a potentially growing situation in Smith Union would have stretched their ability to ensure safety on other parts of the campus. An altercation that evening between students in the union, while quickly defused, underscored the need to limit access to the space.

Another factor was concern for the staff working in Smith Union and whether they could feasibly do their jobs, especially over a potentially protracted period of time with the encampment in place.

Of course, the union was only closed to those seeking to enter the space—students inside the union were free to leave at any point. The union is typically open to members of the campus community twenty-four hours a day. It is important to note that the students’ presence alone was not necessarily the issue. Students were told on multiple occasions that it was their tents, posters, and banners that were in conflict with space-use policies in Smith Union.

In addition to the union, Sargent Gymnasium and Studzinski Recital Hall were also closed after the doors to Smith Union were breached by multiple people on Friday. Closing these adjacent and connected spaces allowed us to limit the access points needing to be covered by safety and security staff. Campus safety and security staff permitted student access to Studzinski Hall practice rooms upon request.

What rules or policies were violated by the encampment?

Bowdoin’s Academic Honor Code and Social Code does not permit the use of college facilities in a way that disrupts the normal operations of the College or is otherwise counter to the security and safety of others. It also requires students to comply with the reasonable request of a college official or faculty member. Additionally, the Social Code contains rules that bar unauthorized entry into or occupation of a work area or social facility, among other spaces, and prohibits conduct that restricts or prevents employees from performing their duties.

During the four days of the encampment, these and other violations of college policy were explained to the students.

Were members of the public involved with the protests?

Yes. Over the four days that the encampment existed on campus, outside individuals and groups unaffiliated with the College came to campus at the invitation of the students inside the union. The College closely monitored the situation to ensure the safety of our community and made sure to brief local police and fire officials along the way, per standard protocol.

What about rumors that the College switched off utilities in the space to force students to leave?

The College did not turn off heat, electricity, or internet systems during the encampment, nor did the College deny food or other necessities.

Did students and staff who were scheduled to work in the union lose any pay when the building was closed?

No. Staff and student employees who work in Smith Union continued to receive pay for their regularly scheduled hours while the union was closed.

Will students involved in the encampment face disciplinary action?

Our campus policies are important—and they are put in place to ensure all members of the community can feel welcome in every space on campus and have fair and equal access to our resources and opportunities. The students involved with the encampment were issued multiple reminders and warnings about those policies. Students who violate college policies are subject to the disciplinary process.

Prior to any notice or intent to pursue disciplinary action, students were provided clear and specific warning of actions that would be taken and why and were given the opportunity to take down the encampment or vacate the premises. After each warning, some students left the encampment, with eight students remaining until the end.

Any disciplinary action will follow existing procedures outlined in the Student Disciplinary Process section of the Code of Community Standards, but the College will not speak to individual cases to protect the privacy of those involved.

Did the College negotiate a deal to end the encampment?

No. In conversations that led to the end of the encampment, the College told the students remaining in the encampment that it would acknowledge certain facts about the situation, including that the interactions between the students involved in the encampment and the administration included respectful dialogue; that the students left voluntarily; and that the College made the decision to close the union.

The students also requested an assurance that the conversations around the issues that they were raising would continue. Given that continued dialogue is core to our fundamental educational mission, the College assured them that we would find the right mix of programming and speakers with different perspectives to do that, as is our practice.

What resources is Bowdoin providing?

We understand that the circumstances surrounding these events have been difficult, leaving some members of our community feeling upset and vulnerable. We take these concerns very seriously as a community that is devoted to a safe and welcoming environment for all. We want our students to feel empowered to fight for what they feel is right, and we also want our students to feel welcome and safe. We also know that these events have provoked a strong reaction from members of the community. In particular, we have received reports of hateful expression on campus and through social media. Hate has no place on our campus, and these kinds of comments are unacceptable.

The College is committed to working with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and other members of our extended Bowdoin family to reflect on this moment to emerge as a stronger community. Please reach out to class deans or Human Resources as appropriate or contact the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance for support. You can learn more about reporting discrimination or harassment here on the Office of the Dean of Students website.

What’s next? How do we move forward?

As President Zaki wrote in her message to the campus community announcing an end to the encampment, the College is planning opportunities to help the campus community connect, process, and engage on these issues. She has also invited students affected by these events to engage with her directly and is expanding her office hours over the next several weeks to encourage dialogue.