On October 21, 2024, Ava Schaeffel was arrested by the University of Minnesota (U of M) police department and charged with rioting, trespassing, and damage to property.
On the same day, U of M Students for a Democratic Society (umnsds) posted on Instagram: "SUPPORT STUDENTS OCCUPYING MORRILL HALL...to demand that the University of Minnesota DIVEST from the genocidal Israel and all weapon companies complicit...#palestine #divest #intifada." A flyer included in the post read: "UMN COMMUNITY OCCUPIES [sic] MORRILL HALL / RENAMES IT HALIMY HALL..."
The building takeover was organized by U of M's chapter of Students for a Democratic Society (umnsds) and supported by U of M's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (sjpumn), which posted on Instagram: "UMN STUDENTS OCCUPY HISTORIC MORRILL HALL FOR PALESTINE 
...UMN STUDENTS DEMAND COMPLETE DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAELI WEAPONS AND BONDS, ISRAELI UNIVERSITIES AND WEAPONS STOCK...LIBERATION IS NEAR !!"
The post included a video captioned: "UMN STUDENTS HAVE OCCUPIED MORRILL HALL !! !! !!" and showed a small group of students supporting the building takeover, led by a woman wearing a red keffiyeh and shouting into a megaphone while pacing back and forth in front of a large, green banner with white text that read: "MONEY FOR EDUCATION / NOT FOR BOMBS & OCCUPATION."
On October 21, 2024, CrimeWatchMpls posted on X: "...From the occupation of UMN campus." Included in the post were photos that showed the entrance and exit doors of Morrill Hall sealed shut with a metal bike lock and bungee cords, and blocked by furniture.
Also on October 21, 2024, a user posted on X: "Pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Minnesota have barricaded the entrances to Morrill, the administrative building." The post included a photo of students, faces hidden by keffiyehs wrapped around their heads, moving furniture down the building hallway. A second photo showed a doorway pulled shut by ropes and barricaded by furniture, which prevented staff from leaving the building, and damaged property.
On October 21, 2024, following the arrests, U of M issued a statement about the protest and arrests that said: "Once inside the building, protesters began spray painting, including covering lenses of all internal security cameras, breaking interior windows, and barricading the building’s entrance and exit points. The full extent of the damage is unknown. A number of staff were working in the building at the time, and several people were not able to exit...for an extended period of time. To ensure the safety of U of M employees in the building who were unable to exit, and in light of property damage sustained to the building, University of Minnesota Police Department [UMPD] was called to the scene...With necessary support from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, UMPD...arrested 11 people..."
On October 30, 2024, Campus Reform reported that Ava Schaeffel, age 21, was one of 11 "anti-Israel agitators" arrested after taking over Morrill Hall at U of M on charges of "damage to property, riot, and trespassing."
Of the 11 students arrested, umnsds posted on Instagram that seven were found guilty.
On November 28, 2024, umnsds posted on Instagram: "U OF MN HALIMY HALL STUDENTS SUSPENDED FOR UP TO 2.5 YEARS!"
The post continued: "...the [7] students were found guilty on all charges...As punishment, the administration has decided that all 7 students must pay over $5,500 each in restitution and will be suspended starting January 1st..."
The post also stated that: "...the University intends to withhold the transcripts of those arrested' and stated that 'students have to do 20 hours of community service and write a 5-10 page essay about the 'the difference between vandalism and protest.'"
On December 10, 2024, the Sahan Journal published an article titled: "Minneapolis mayor vetoes measure supporting pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied UMN building." The mayor was quoted as saying: "I fully support the right to freedom of speech, but that right does not extend to actions that jeopardize the well-being of others..."
The article reported that Schaeffel "was put on interim suspension immediately after the occupation and then given a 1.5-year suspension that starts in 2025. She also says she has to pay $5,600 in restitution, do 20 hours of community service and write a five-to-10 page essay on 'the difference between vandalism and protests.'"
