UW statement on criminal charges filed in the IEB occupation

The following is a statement from the University of Washington regarding gross misdemeanor trespassing charges being filed Tuesday against the 33 individuals who were arrested in connection with occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building in May 2025:

We are pleased to see criminal charges filed with the court related to the occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. This is an important step in ensuring accountability for those who perpetrated this occupation, in addition to the suspensions that the students arrested in the building received through the student conduct process. We value free speech and expression but also must continue to be a campus community where dangerous, unlawful actions are not tolerated.

We appreciate the hard work by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, UW Police and law enforcement partners who investigated a complex case involving a large number of individuals.