DePaul University has pulled the plug on its 2024 FEST, an eagerly awaited end-of-year music festival, as a result of an on-campus protest that shows no signs of concluding. The festival, which was set for this Friday, is a casualty of the standoff between the university and the pro-Palestinian DePaul Divestment Coalition, according to an announcement made by the school on Monday. The student-organized event has become collateral in the negotiations involving campus demonstrations that began on April 30.
The university issued a statement, obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, stating, "Given the current campus environment, FEST 2024 cannot proceed as planned." This decision comes amid reports of a stalemate in discussions with the DePaul Divestment Coalition, the student group that has occupied the quad, the planned site of the festival. This measure affects not only FEST but also other end-of-year celebratory activities, which the university is currently reviewing and planning to reschedule.
Furthermore, the administration emphasized its intention to support the class of 2024's desire for traditional student activities, acknowledging the interruptions they experienced due to the pandemic. "We have heard from some students — particularly the class of 2024 whose high school graduations and first year of college were disrupted by the pandemic — that they are still seeking to have traditional student activities as they end the academic year," they stated, as per the Chicago Sun-Times. According to the protestors, the cancellation is an attempt to shift blame onto them, even though they remain open to negotiation.
Despite the disruption, some students see the encampment as a fight worth fighting for. "If the encampment can make a big difference, even the slightest difference I think it’s worth it," DePaul junior Devon Spence said. Though the encampment stands as a symbol of resistance and a call for institutional change, other students voiced disappointment over the festival's cancellation. "I am a little bit hurt that it’s canceled," said Rose Head, a junior, who also spoke to WGN News. "I think it shouldn’t have been canceled. I think they should have figured something out because they knew about this and it’s been going on for a while."
However, the university has clearly stated it will not accede to demands such as removing individuals with ties to Israel from the board of trustees or ending investment in Israel. The controversy over how to navigate student activism and the logistics of campus events persists, with the university's communication team hinting at intricate negotiations, stating, "We are not on a path to understanding."
