“Our university will not be occupied,” President Jay Hartzell insisted.
“The protesters tried to deliver on their stated intent to occupy campus. People not affiliated with UT joined them, and many ignored University officials’ continual pleas for restraint and to immediately disperse,” Hartzell wrote.
“UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses,” a statement by the university’s division of student affairs said.
“This is an important time in our semester with students finishing classes and studying for finals and we will act first and foremost to allow those critical functions to proceed without interruption,” the statement read.
Protesters attempt an Occupation
Law enforcement officers including state troopers in riot gear and mounted Austin police kept watch at the protest.
By 2 p.m., as police began dispersing protesters from the Speedway Mall area, the students moved toward the UT Tower and to the South Lawn where they began setting up tents for an encampment. Police took the tents down almost immediately.
