University of Chicago students cancel decades-old school tradition in protest of student's arrest
University of Chicago students have canceled one of the schools well-known traditions in protest of the arrest, suspension and banning from campus of a student who was involved in a pro-Palestinian protest last fall.
Kuvia, an event to promote wellness also called Kuviasungnerk/Kangeiko, is called off this year after one of its main organizers was arrested Dec. 11 at Renee Granville-Grossman Residential Commons.
Mamayan Jabateh, a 21-year-old senior, is charged with two felony counts of aggravated battery of a peace officer and one count of resisting or obstructing a peace officer, firefighter or correctional employee, court records say.
Jabateh is accused of striking a police officer on the face and body, knocking her glasses off and causing bruises during a protest held on October 11, according to the arrest report. Jabateh entered a plea of not guilty for all counts, according to court records.
Jabateh, who uses they/them pronouns, said they were working on a paper during finals week when four officers and an investigator knocked on the door of their dorm and placed them in handcuffs. Jabateh wouldn't discuss the charges, saying that legal and disciplinary cases were ongoing. Jabateh is the second student to be arrested and banned from campus in connection with their involvement in the protests, student organizers said.
"I didn't know what to do. I asked if I was being arrested. They said yes," Jabateh told the Sun-Times Wednesday. "That was it. I don't know what anyone could do in that moment or think in that moment. ... It was shocking."
The day prior, Jabateh, an Uptown native, said they were emailing with Melina Hale, dean of the college, to confirm plans for Kuvia, where Hale was planning to lead students in yoga stretches during the event, which celebrated its 40th year last year. Hale had signed off on Jabateh's eviction from campus, they said.
University of Chicago spokespeople confirmed the arrest but didn't give details of Jabateh's disciplinary status or enrollment at the university. In a statement from the university, officials called Kuvia a "valued, student-run tradition" and said they would support the event if students choose to put it on again this year.
At the time of the arrest, Jabateh said they had already been planning for the days-long student event, coordinating with different student organizations and solidifying plans. But under the circumstances, holding Kuvia, which is meant to promote wellness, care and community, didn't make sense, according to Jabateh and Gifty Asomah, a senior and member of the Council on University Programming, which puts on Kuvia each year. During Kuvia, students typically wake up early, gather on campus and participate in wellness activities put on by various student organizations.
"Without us, this university and its traditions do not exist," Jabateh said.
Asomah said canceling Kuvia was a way to send a message to the university that students support Jabateh and don't want to allow the school the opportunity to carry on as usual.
"If anything that Mamayan has taught me through our friendship, it's that if you have a voice we have the power, we can use it and fight for the betterment of all," Asomah said.
Asomah said students have been supportive of the decision to cancel the event, which was initially set to take place Monday through Friday this week.
"It just goes to show if you fight for something, there are going to be people who are going to support you," Asomah said.
Jabateh, who was set to graduate this year, was planning to apply to graduate schools. They said it's unclear how long the suspension will last and if they'll be able to finish their degree.
"What's next for me, I don't know," Jabateh said. "The university has taken that choice away from me."
In the wake of their arrest and as the legal and disciplinary cases against them progress, Jabateh continues to point back to the mounting death toll in Gaza. Over 46,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks since Oct. 7, 2023, when 1,200 Israelis were killed in an attack by Hamas. College students across the country have been denouncing their universities' financial support of Israel in high-profile protests since the attacks began.
"Where I'm standing right now it's always been about Palestine, it's always been about Gaza," Jabateh said. "It's always been about using my voice as a Black person to talk about the injustice in Palestine."