CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WRIC) — University of Virginia (UVA) President Jim Ryan hosted a virtual ‘Town Hall’ Tuesday afternoon to address concerns and backlash from students, alumni and community members in response to events that unfolded at the school on Saturday.

Riot police were called to clear a Pro-Palestinian protest, which led to 27 people – including 12 students – being arrested.

8News went to Charlottesville to speak with community members and students. Walking around UVA on Tuesday, some students had the virtual ‘Town Hall’ pulled up on their phones – eagerly listening in.

Others said it wasn’t even on their minds, as they were more worried about final exams.

Some students told our team that they’re just hoping for more transparency from administration in the future. Students like Third-year Justin Vinh said the ‘Town Hall’ was a solid first step to increasing transparency.

“That’s something administration really needs to address with students,” Vinh said. “You know, ‘What’s ‘proportional’ response?’ ‘What were the boundaries of protesting and retaining our freedom of speech at the university?'”

On Saturday, May 4, the University of Virginia’s historic ‘Lawn’ was filled with protesters. Chants could be heard and chaos broke loose as local and state police were called in to clear what officials labeled “unlawful assembly.”

Administration said demonstrators violated university policies by pitching tents. Protesters were also reported to have “amplified sound.” This escalation led to 27 arrests in total – including 12 UVA students.

The university’s handling of Saturday’s demonstration, calling in heightened law enforcement, prompted significant backlash from members of the university community, including, but not limited to alumni, current students and Charlottesville community members.

In response to calls for accountability, leaders hosted a virtual ‘Town Hall’ on Tuesday.

Vice President & Chief Student Affairs Officer Kenyon Bonner said the protest appeared to be largely led by people outside of the immediate university community. He’s been actively engaging in discussions with student leaders and activists all year.

“[I’ve engaged with students] who have been advocating for Palestinian rights and hosting rallies and demonstrations on Grounds peacefully and following university policies,” Bonner said. “And the individuals who participated in the encampment — I didn’t recognize any of those.”

Confusion over the school’s assembly policies further heightened tensions. Claims circulated online that the school changed its rules just moments before riot police began making arrests.

This topic came up multiple times during Tuesday’s ‘Town Hall.’ President Jim Ryan said it’s difficult and complicated to explicitly break down each individual code, guideline and policy.

However, he clarified that the assembly policy specifically addressing whether or not tents are allowed in protests never changed, by nature. He said there was confusion and conflation between circumstantial “permit guidelines” in certain other events versus respective, delineated assembly rules for construction and tent-like structures.

According to Ryan, someone internally within university administration made a decision — which he admitted was questionable — to correct and clarify the rhetoric outlined for assembly policy, so that it reflected the intended coding and would be consistent with separate, unrelated tent permit rules that morning.

Regardless, the leader acknowledged the frustration sparked by those actions and the subsequent skepticism it instilled between students and officials.

“I’m fully and painfully aware that we lost some of that trust on Saturday and that it’s very difficult to regain trust,” Ryan said. “At the same time, I have an obligation as a president to make decisions that I think are in the best interests of the entire community.”

Ryan was asked if the power and purpose behind a protest should ever over-rule technical rules and policies.

“If you make one exception because you believe the cause is very just — you’re going to be faced with other instances where you have to make the same decision,” Ryan said.

He said that someone in his position isn’t in a place to judge the validity of causes — but that the decision to clear the demonstration wasn’t just about policy.

“It wasn’t just about enforcing what might seem like a silly bureaucratic policy,” Ryan said, “It was about safety.”

UVA Police Chief Timothy Longo was also present at the virtual ‘Town Hall.’ He said he checked in on protests throughout the week into the weekend.

According to Longo, it wasn’t until Saturday that he feared safety could become a concern. He used this explanation, in part, to justify the administrative decision to act that day.

Vinh said he was glad to see the majority of demonstrations on grounds end in peace. He said he thinks it’s crucial students and administration work together to ensure everyone is guaranteed their right to free speech.

“I absolutely encourage … protesting in whatever form as long as it’s peaceful,” Vinh said. “Bu,t also, they have to respect this amazing university that we have.”

Leaders added that there were additional pro-Palestinian protests held Sunday, even after things escalated Saturday. As those remained peaceful, they did not violate policies and, therefore, state officials were not called.

“All year, we have been making space for free speech and civil discussion,” Ryan said. “We have given it a particularly wide berth and have faced criticism for doing so. But UVA’s commitment to free speech is a bedrock part of this.”