Copenhagen University has chosen to suspend all dialogue with the group Students Against Occupation after a series of demonstrations that took place early Friday morning at the university’s main entrances at Frue Plads. This step was announced through the university’s official channel on the social media platform X. The demonstrations involved approximately 36 students who blocked access to the university buildings as a form of protest against the university leadership’s handling of their concerns. Lukas Rigillo, one of the demonstrators and a student at the university, expressed frustration over the leadership’s lack of willingness to engage in open dialogue. “We don’t think they have been willing to listen to us,” he said. Negotiations between Students Against Occupation and the university leadership, which had looked promising earlier in the week, were abruptly halted by the university. According to Rigillo, the university leadership reneged on previous commitments, leading to great frustration among the students. “On Monday, a lot looked very promising. But then they backed out on some things yesterday,” he explained, without providing further details on the content of the negotiations.
Students Against Occupation have previously set up a tent camp on the university campus as part of a demonstration against Israel’s actions in Gaza, and the group has made sharp demands on the university to acknowledge and condemn what they describe as an ongoing genocide. Minister of Education and Research Christina Egelund (M) has publicly supported the university’s decision and emphasized the importance of the university remaining a non-political and safe place for everyone. On X, she wrote: “The university is and should be non-political, free and a safe environment for all students and staff. If this is not respected, one disrupts the dialogue themselves.” At present, it is unclear how the situation will develop and whether a solution will be found to restore dialogue between the students and the university leadership.