In a show of solidarity, over 700 faculty and staff members at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) have signed a petition calling for amnesty for students who are facing disciplinary action following their involvement in recent pro-Palestine demonstrations. The petition is urging Interim Chancellor Lee Roberts to reconsider the suspensions imposed on the affected students.

The call for amnesty comes in response to clashes between students, protesters, and police during the protests. UNC Provost Chris Clemens and Graduate School Dean Beth Mayer-Davis penned a letter expressing concern that the university's decision to involve the police in removing an encampment on April 30 undermined public trust. While the letter described the protesters as peaceful, UNC stated that the quad had been damaged during the demonstrations.

Students have raised concerns that some instructors have threatened to withhold grades as part of their protest actions, which could impact graduation, job prospects, and athletic eligibility. The faculty and staff who signed the petition are urging their colleagues to prioritize students' educational needs and fulfill their duties by submitting grades on time. They maintain that while they support faculty and graduate students' right to express their opinions freely, it should not come at the expense of student welfare and the trust placed in the university by the people of North Carolina.

The provost's office has stated that sanctions will be imposed on instructors found guilty of improperly withholding grades. However, they hope that a resolution can be reached amicably to prevent harm to the students. They emphasize that excellence in education and research is crucial to the university and its students, and any actions that erode the trust between instructors and students should be avoided.

To highlight their demand for justice, a group of faculty members and students marched to the administrative offices at the South Building, carrying a large sheet that read "UNC FACULTY & STAFF FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE." They argue that the suspension of 15 students involved in the encampment and the banning of some students from campus are violations of their freedom of speech.

UNC has refrained from confirming whether any students have been suspended, citing federal privacy laws preventing them from disclosing such information. When contacted for comment on the petition, UNC has yet to respond.

The call for amnesty by the UNC faculty and staff underscores the ongoing debate over free expression, the role of universities in protecting student rights, and the responsibilities of instructors during times of protest. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how UNC's administration will respond and whether amnesty will be granted to the affected students.