Officials announced in an email to students Friday that they are banning student programming on the campus grounds, effective immediately, and will ban events at Kogan Plaza starting next week to create a “24-hour quiet area.”
The Office of Student Affairs will no longer be able to use U-Yard for student organizations and individuals to organize events, programming, or unscheduled activities until December 19th, and from December 11th to December 19th, Kogan will be closed to student activities. announced that it would no longer be available. Officials say they are closing study spaces and areas near classrooms, such as the GW Law and German libraries, to allow students to study and prepare for final exams.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October, students have been organizing protests in campus spaces, including Kogan’s, F Street House and the Elliott School of International Studies. Before the email was received, the Coalition of Pro-Palestinian Student Organizations had planned a protest at U-Yard on Friday afternoon, but changed the location to Kogan on Thursday.
In accordance with the Student Code of Conduct, GW does not allow “amplification by hand-held devices” and does not allow excessive noise that disturbs others, such as shouting, “banging objects or surfaces,” or constantly playing music or other electronic devices. The email states that this is prohibited.
“During this period, individuals or student groups who wish to organize social activities, demonstrations, or other events may use Potomac Square or any other available open spaces that are available for reservation,” the email states. . “Normal activities in the identified areas will resume from January 2, 2024.”