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Protesters: \u201cDisclose! Divest!\u201d In student-led protests around the country, university faculty have stood in support of demonstrators, risking arrest. \u201cHe is a professor. He is a professor.\u201d At the University of Virginia, The Times got an inside look at faculty\u2019s role. \u201cI can take you through the blow by blow of the day if you want.\u201d And how their negotiations with police broke down at a crucial moment. \u201cWhy is he \u2014\u201d \u201cBack up.\u201d \u201cIn a wanton fashion, they allowed the Virginia State Police to come here fully armed, rifles, mace. One of my colleagues was standing right there trying to talk to the Virginia State Police. He got arrested. The other one standing next to him got pushed back behind the line, and he got partially maced. It didn\u2019t have to happen this way.\u201d The night before police raided a pro-Palestinian encampment, a few University of Virginia professors tried to deescalate the standoff and recorded their conversation with the university police chief, Tim Longo. The Times agreed to blur the faces of faculty who had concerns about their job security. Protesters had refused to engage with the university. So a handful of professors stepped in to be intermediaries. This, at times, frustrated administrators who told The Times the process required a leap of faith. \u201cWe basically took shifts, two-hour shifts being here. We had these yellow armbands that we wore to distinguish that we were faculty liaison. And our job really was just to communicate between the administration, the police and the students.\u201d Hours later, Professors Walter Heinecke and Mark Sicoli, who documented the incident on his phone, approached the police chief again, stating confusion about what the campus policy actually states for use of smaller recreational tents. Within half an hour, before professors and police could come to an agreement about the tent policy, Chief Longo called the Virginia State Police. Troopers soon arrived with pepper spray and M4 assault rifles to help dismantle the encampment. In all, a few dozen protesters in about 20 tents. \u201cShame on you. Shame on you.\u201d University officials say they warned protesters for days that they were in violation of school policy. Twenty-seven people were arrested, including at least one professor, who declined to speak with us for this story. \u201cHe is a professor. This is a professor.\u201d \u201cWe were in front of the camp students. And then in front of us were faculty. And then the Virginia State Police were here and moved in. I was hit with a riot shield, which is when I got this bruise. They pepper-sprayed me. I was detained for about 10 minutes, if I had to guess. And then eventually, they just, like, cut off my zip ties.\u201d The heavy police response raised alarm across campus. And now, several faculty members, including Heinecke, want to hold the university accountable for what they say was a violent clampdown on free speech, protesting Israel\u2019s war in Gaza. \u201cI\u2019ve just got to show you one thing where they get around on \u2014\u201d \u201cIf they would have just said, you know, let\u2019s negotiate, let\u2019s leave the tents up for a couple more days and we\u2019ll negotiate this out. It\u2019s not like you\u2019re robbing a bank or anything. You put a couple of tents on. Why couldn\u2019t we have just done this a different way because the stakes were so low?\u201d The university president and campus police chief did not respond to requests for comment. \u201cAnd then I\u2019ll turn to Chief Longo.\u201d But in a virtual town hall on May 7, university police and administration defended their actions, citing unidentified outside agitators as a primary concern. \u201cThe police were met with physical confrontation and attempted assault, and didn\u2019t feel equipped to engage given the situation. That\u2019s when the decision was made to call on the state police.\u201d \u201cWe have a duty to fight for Palestine.\u201d \u201cWe have a \u2014\u201d \u201cI was afraid that myself and the assistant chief would be surrounded, and that we would be put in a position to have to defend ourselves. It was clear to me by word and action, this was escalating.\u201d \u201cFree, free Palestine.\u201d \u201cIn front of the historic rotunda.\u201d In response, Heinecke and several other faculty members held their own town hall to try to show that the police action was unwarranted. Then on May 10, the U.V.A. faculty senate held a hearing with President Ryan to discuss the university response to protests. \u201cI, for one, am thankful for him that he prevented us to get into a situation, which would be similar to a Columbia.\u201d While there was support, most of the speakers were critical. \u201cMy heart broke because of what took place.\u201d \u201cTo the condemnable call of the Virginia State Police in full gear, and the use of excessive force to terrorize our students in their own backyard.\u201d \u201cIf all of you decide I\u2019m not the right leader, that\u2019s your choice.\u201d In a vote, faculty called for an independent review of his and Chief Longo\u2019s decisions on May 4, but stopped short of condemning the police action outright. \u201cAll right. Once again, I need people who are just here for court.\u201d On the same day across town, supporters of protesters facing trespassing charges gathered in solidarity at the courthouse. \u201cIt\u2019s first hearing for everybody who was charged with trespass, which includes our two students.\u201d On May 15, many of those arrested at the protest encampment had their charges dismissed by the public prosecutor. A U.V.A. spokesman told The Times that the university has not yet agreed to an independent review of its decision to call in state police.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n