UPDATE: April 30, 7:35 p.m.
The encampment outside Foellinger Auditorium moved the sign labeled “UIUC Liberation Zone” farther north on the Main Quad, expanding the encampment to about 40 tents.
The Daily Illini spoke with a student representative from the ongoing encampment.
DI: So the sign was moved. Can you tell us a little about what’s going on?
Student representative: Oh, yeah. So the sign was moved because clearly the encampment is expanding, which is a very good thing. I’m hoping that the more the encampment expands, the more pressure it puts on the University to be more willing to meet with us to discuss our demands.
DI: So what is the symbolism behind the sign?
Student representative: Essentially it started off with Columbia SJP, and they were mirroring some student protestors in the 80s or 60s who had a Liberated Zone. So then Colombia started their encampment off with a Liberated Zone and then the national SJP call came out to everyone, so that essentially just started the encampment. It’s a Liberated Zone because, you know, it’s the area for divestment.
DI: How far are you hoping to go with the sign?
Student representative: I mean, the whole Main Quad. That would be nice. I don’t know, I think it’s not so much the sign is our perimeter. It’s kind of just there. I think as encampment goes the sign will go further. I mean, the goal is always divestment, so hopefully, we just go halfway and we get divestment.
DI: Do you have a head count on how many people you have in here right now?
Student representative: Right now? I don’t know. I want to say — because there’s some people in tents and some people on the other side — I want to say maybe 50 people right now. I’m really glad a lot more people have been starting to sleep at night here. I think that’s also why they moved the sign, so they can fit in more tents as well.
