After not speaking on camera for more than a week, we tracked down UWM chancellor to ask about protest encampment

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- On Tuesday, May 7, we tracked down UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone to ask him about the protest encampment that has grown on campus for more than a week.

The university has said many times the encampment is illegal when protesters stay overnight, but UWM has not done anything to remove them.

They also have not spoken about the situation or answered any questions since the protests began.

For more than a week now, we've been trying to get answers for the community from UWM administrators.

We caught up with Chancellor Mone between meetings at the end of the day Tuesday. We introduced ourselves and offered to walk with him, but that walk did not yield much new information.

We've given the UWM administration more than a week to prepare to speak about the pro-Palestinian encampment that grows outside Mitchell Hall. The administration has refused.

As we walked, we asked Mone, "You've acknowledged that they're unlawful, but the university hasn't done anything about it. So what is the tactic there?" He was silent so we asked again, "Chancellor, is there any answer there?" He then said, "No comment. It's pending because we're in negotiations right now."

Both protesters and members of the Jewish community have accused the university of trying to ignore the situation, of not communicating with those involved, and of hoping it will go away.

We told Mone, "They are very frustrated, saying you don't take calls, the university is putting its fingers in its ears, and just wants this to go away. Any response to those accusations?"

Again, he said, "No comment."

Student representatives met with other administrators Monday, but protesters told us they were frustrated with that conversation.

Hours later they expanded their encampment.

We asked Mone Tuesday, "If this [protest encampment] were to go beyond commencement, if it were to go into the summer, are we just not going to hear from you or the university?"

He said, "We'll be communicating probably with the campus and community tomorrow."

But Mone said that will be a simple statement, it will not allow for questions. And many of the statements that have been sent out by a spokesperson have been copied and pasted from previous statements.

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has taken questions several times throughout the protests.

So has Governor Tony Evers. At a stop in Racine Tuesday, he was asked about when the encampments would have to come down.

Governor Evers said, "I leave that up to law enforcement and the University of Wisconsin."

With so little information from UWM, the campus's Jewish community continues to be frustrated.

Rabbi Joshua Herman, of Hillel Milwaukee, said Tuesday, "I certainly never thought I would see the chancellor meet it with silence and indifference the way he has."

Herman added, "They seem unwilling to enforce their rules."

Mone told us he doesn't want to speak on camera until the situation is resolved.

But protesters have repeatedly said they're ready to stay into the fall, if necessary, meaning Mone could presumably refuse to speak for months.

We asked him, "Do you think that's acceptable? That you are the head of this university and not speaking to your community?"

He said, "I told you I'll be giving a statement tomorrow."

If we get a statement Wednesday it will likely come after a second meeting that's scheduled between student representatives of the protesters and administrators.

Chancellor Mone said they're still working on a time for that meeting. But again, there will not be an interview.