A pro-Palestinian encampment at Dalhousie University in Halifax is occupying the space in front of the Studley Quad.

About 20 tents are on site in front of the main entrance to the Henry Hicks building.

A group called Students for the Liberation of Palestine- Kjipuktuk (Halifax) say on Instagram that they are a coalition of students from Dalhousie, St. Mary’s University, University of Kings College and the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

The groups say they “call on our universities to immediately disclose and divest” from investments they have made to companies tied to Israel.

Meanwhile, in an email statement to faculty and staff, Dalhousie President and Vice-Chancellor Kim Brooks as well as Vice-Provost Student Affairs, Rick Ezekiel say they know many members of our community share “similar frustrations and concerns” to those being expressed at university encampments across the country and around the world.

“We are committed to the safety and well-being of our entire community and, in alignment with our mission as a learning institution, to maintaining open lines of communication through respectful, non-violent dialogue and debate – even, and especially, when those conversations are hard. We are monitoring the peaceful protest and engaging with its organizers and participants with those principles in mind.”

They add that the Henry Hicks building is open as usual with security on site.

They ask that faculty and staff be respectful of others and that “many people are struggling with the state of the world right now” and it is essential they remain a place where “conflicting views can co-exist” and strive to “see each other’s humanity across difference.”

The encampment has been there since Sunday evening.