University of Minnesota’s Divest Coalition members, composed of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), met with the Minnesota Daily on Monday to discuss the coalition’s plans for the new semester. 

While SJP was unable to attend, members of SDS and YDSA emphasized the importance of working as a group to improve the overall perception of the coalition.

“In terms of our public perception, we’re trying to get the masses organized, and we’re trying to get people involved in the campaign,” YDSA member Malia Massmann said. “Our public image is pretty important to us and we do want to hear what people have to say about our presence on campus.”

The members of the coalition are aware of the negativity their tactics brought towards the coalition’s public perception, but they said they are more than just protests and marches. 

For the coming semester, they look to connect with students and grow deeper roots within the University’s student body, YDSA member Luzia Stern said.

Efforts to connect with students include holding public education meetings, speaking in classes and giving more opportunities for students to interact with the group, Stern said.

“We’re doing a lot of tactics to reach the general masses to educate them and agitate them into joining,” Stern said.

The coalition, SDS in particular, has been notable over the past semester for its aggressive protesting tactics. The group stirred up controversy on campus after members of SDS broke into and occupied Morrill Hall on Oct. 21, where the University has its administrative offices.

The occupation resulted in the suspension of seven students by the University, and one member of SDS being charged with fourth-degree assault. After the occupation, the University barred SDS from operating as an official student group on campus indefinitely.

SDS member Mackenan Miller said she understood why some students saw the protest as abrasive.

“It was the beginning of the semester, it was after summer break, and people were like, ‘Why is this happening now?’” Miller said. “It didn’t feel like there was enough build-up to it.”

Members said even though they are looking to move away from protests similar to Morrill Hall, their demonstrations will continue, but with a heavier focus on collaborative efforts instead of each group working independently.

Another change the members of the coalition said they are trying to prepare for is potential changes under President Donald Trump’s administration. In a meeting with donors in May 2024, Trump threatened to crack down on pro-Palestine student protesters, the focus of the Divest Coalition.

“One thing I do is, any student that protests, I throw them out of the country,” Trump said in the meeting. “You know, there are a lot of foreign students. As soon as they hear that, they’re going to behave.” 

The representatives cited some of Trump’s claims as worries for the future of their organizations. With Trump in office, many said they are concerned about new potential policies surrounding U.S. involvement in Israel.

“Well, if you get me elected, and you should really be doing this, if you get me reelected, we’re going to set that movement back 25 or 30 years,” Trump said to an anonymous donor, according to the Washington Post.

Stern said he is well aware of Trump’s influence as president but believes the president’s influence will be much more passive on campus compared to other parts of our daily lives. He believes the deciding factor for following Trump’s orders will be focused more on funding.

“These big universities and corporations are going to be motivated by money,” Stern said. “If Trump puts forward things to get rid of those important spaces for marginalized people, then that means it’ll be up to the community.”

For now, the members said they are focused on the present.

Members of SDS are still waiting to hear the official details surrounding the beginning of their suspensions for their involvement in the Morrill Hall occupation. Rowan Lange, one of the seven SDS members facing suspension, said the group expected their suspensions to take effect at the start of the new semester, but as of Wednesday, they had not heard anything.