In the Mirror: IUPUI’s pro-Palestinian protest feels different. Here’s why.

Dear Indy,

Today’s lead story comes from higher education Claire Rafford, who spent more time with students, staff and professors on IUPUI’s campus to learn more about the pro-Palestinian encampment there. Here’s how it begins:

If you turn onto Michigan Street along IUPUI’s campus, you’ll have to crane your neck to spot the cluster of students who’ve built a pro-Palestinian encampment under the business building.

At Indiana University’s flagship campus in Bloomington, by contrast, more than 50 people were arrested in late April after the Indiana State Police and IU Police Department broke up an encampment in a prominent spot on campus. Similarly, four Purdue students are facing discipline for their role in a 12-day encampment, and 17 peaceful pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested at the University of Notre Dame.

Such confrontations have become familiar in many campuses in the U.S., where college students are protesting the war in Gaza and demanding that their universities cut financial ties with Israel. As of May 13, the New York Times reported that more than 2,800 people have been arrested or detained at college campuses across the country.

But in Indianapolis, where students have been camping out since April 26 to protest Israel’s invasion of Gaza, there hasn’t been so much as a standoff.

No police officers — campus or otherwise — have tried to remove their encampments or asked them to leave. For the first few days, organizer Layth Abdulbari told Mirror Indy, he wasn’t sure whether the administration even knew the campers were there.

In interviews with nine students, staff and activists, Mirror Indy asked why the extent of the protests — and the response from the university and law enforcement — have been different in this city’s largest and perhaps highest profile university. They say the campus attracts a far different student population than other universities, including students from working-class backgrounds and older adults returning to higher education to train for new careers.

These students may feel just as strongly as their peers at other colleges, but for a variety of reasons aren’t in a position to risk retribution by escalating protests. The university’s response also has been more measured, many said, which could be related to a desire to avoid a repeat of the backlash from the arrests in Bloomington.

“We have students who work, we have students who take care of families,” said Tijen Demirel-Pegg, a professor of political science at IUPUI. “They don’t have time to actually sit in an encampment. That’s the demographics of IUPUI and it’s just a major difference between Bloomington or Columbia or UCLA.”

Students say they’re inspired that their campus has organized to be a part of the national movement. Maram Nada, a junior, said that Indianapolis’ demonstration shows the overall peaceful nature of the student movement.

“Nobody’s screaming, nobody’s yelling out antisemitic slurs,” she said. “We’re all just sitting, eating, hanging out, just maintaining a presence.”

Continue reading the article here.

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In other news

Haughville resident Tawonia Taylor, 56, watches a cooking demonstration May 14, 2024, held by the Marion County Public Health Department at the Indianapolis Public Library Haughville branch. Credit: Jennifer Wilson Bibbs for Mirror Indy

Haughville resident Tawonia Taylor, whose family has a history of diabetes, attended a cooking demonstration this week at her local library branch. It’s part of a wider effort to help Indy residents learn how we can create healthy habits. “My dad had lots of complications, so I am just trying to live a healthier lifestyle,” said Taylor, 56. More cooking demonstrations are planned this summer and the details are available here.

A sculpture in an Indianapolis International Airport parking garage was meant to help passengers feel calm before takeoff, so I guess it’s apt that it had been out of operation since the start of the pandemic. But after some repairs, “Breath” is finally working again — much to the delight of the artist Greg Hull, who also is the dean of Herron School of Art and Design at Indiana University Indianapolis: “It was important to me to help people be welcomed home or to help them relax. I wanted to have something to help people just begin to breathe slowly and add something positive to people’s travel experience.”

What’s going on around the city

Friday, May 17: Gear up for Saturday’s I Made Rock ‘N’ Roll festival with a pre-show featuring Wife Patrol, The Last IV, 81355 and the New Respects at 8 p.m. at the Vogue Theatre, 6259 N. College Ave. Tickets are $15.

Saturday, May 18: Antique enthusiasts can head over to 1141 Shannon Ave. in the Little Flower neighborhood for a Vintage and Mid-Century Modern Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Shop for picture frames, kitchenware, clothing and other items.

Saturday, May 18: The 52nd annual Broad Ripple Art Fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Indy Art Center, 820 E. 67th St. More than 150 local, regional and national artists will have their work on sale. Tickets start at $10.

— Breanna Cooper, arts and culture reporter

Looking for other things to do? Check out Mirror Indy’s events calendar.

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Arts and Culture

Emily Wilhelm (left) and Vanessa Bozzo (right) rehearse with the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus May 12, 2024, ahead of their 30th anniversary concert May 18-19, “Seasons of Love.” Credit: Jenna Watson/Mirror Indy

When the Indianapolis Women’s Chorus was founded 30 years ago, it was created as a haven for gay and lesbian vocalists, with a founding principle to offer solace through music. On May 18 and 19, the choir will perform “Seasons of Love” at the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center at the University of Indianapolis.

But it’s more than just a couple of concerts – it’s a celebration of three decades of resilience, friendship and social justice work. Take the kids; children 12 and younger can attend for free. Tickets are $30, but there’s also a pay-what-you-can option so that everyone can feel a part of the IWC’s storied history.