MUN Provost Dr. Jennifer Lokash says pro-Palestinian protesters, who were removed from Memorial property on Friday, were informed by lawyers on Thursday that they could no longer live in a building or camp on grounds meant for work and study.

Lokash was responding to criticism of the action taken when she appeared on the Tim Powers Show on VOCM. Powers is a member of MUN’s Board of Regents.

She says tents had been moved into the lobby and the university had a legal obligation to act on orders of a recent fire inspection report.

She says the protests had also intensified, leading to increased concern.

“There had also been some escalating behaviour, some employees reporting that they felt an increase in harassment and intimidating behaviour.” She says they had to send staff home from the Arts and Admin building on Friday afternoon.

She says they’ve held “numerous” meetings with students and attempted a compromise, by asking students to leave at night and return during the day, but that was rejected.

She denies any suggestion that there was a police raid.

“We were very clear that the expectation was that they were going to leave,” says Lokash. “There were a series of warnings” and when Campus Enforcement was unable to get the last three people to leave, “they brought in the RNC for assistance.”