Campus Protests

Throughout the country, college and university campuses have been taken over by a new wave of protests, with students calling for their schools to ‘financially divest’ their endowments and funds from Israel. (BBC) On April 17th, students of Columbia University began this movement with an encampment on the main campus, claiming they would not leave until Columbia promised to divest in companies with ties to Israel. (Columbia Spectator) College students throughout the country have followed their lead, all with the similar goals of their schools to cut financial ties with Israel, the administration to call for a ceasefire, and overall, for some effort to be made to help the current situation in Gaza.

Although the Israel-Hamas conflict has been going on since October 7th, there has not been this large scale of protest happening until this past April. There have been protests and rallies in support of both sides of the conflict, however, the large majority of campus protests have been against Israel’s treatment of the Palestinian citizens and their actions during this war in general. Students have protested in many forms, encampments, marches, and even staging a walkout during their graduations. The schools have responded in various ways, some such as Harvard submitting the to terms of the protesters, and others such as Columbia detaining over 200 students. (NYT)

Although unexpected, college protests of wars are not unprecedented. During the 1960’s and 1970’s, students “challenged the status quo”, with the protests of the Vietnam War. (Writing Center Journal) These protests took the nation by storm, many were against the war itself and thought the US’s involvement was unnecessary, this issue especially resonating with college students as they were calling for the draft to end as well, as they were allowed to fight for their country, but not vote. Protests throughout the country grew violent, bonfires were set in the streets, police cars were damaged, and the cause grew nationwide support.(HISTORY) While the campus protests were mostly treated by the schools the same as the current day protests, there was one protest in particular that changed the course of future protests all together, the Kent State protest. The protest at Kent State turned violent, resulting in the Ohio National Guard being called, and the lives of four students taken.(Kent State) This tragedy fueled the movement of campus protests, starting the largest student strike with over 500 colleges and universities shutting down temporarily. (ACLU)

The reason I bring up the Vietnam War is because although those protests were nationwide, the main support this cause gained and the catalyst for change came from young people. As a result of their tireless efforts and perseverance, the US was forced to suspend their military draft and end the conflict in Vietnam. (ICNC) Although we don’t know the final results of the protests happening today, change has already been made on a small and large scale as a result of the protestors’ efforts. The Israel-Hamas war is halfway across the globe, but the fact that people are willing to fight for something and stand up for what they believe in, whatever side they may be on, is how change is made in this nation. It inspires people all throughout the country to be involved and aware of what is happening in their nation and world, and not turn a blind eye because it does not affect them directly. If we can learn anything from the protests, change does not simply come to those who wait, but to those who are willing to risk their sense of security and comfort to make it happen.

Sources-

Columbia protesters say talks with university stuck, vow to maintain anti-israel camp | The Times of Israel. Accessed May 20, 2024. https://www.timesofisrael.com/columbia-protesters-say-talks-with-university-stuck-vow-to-maintain-anti-israel-camp/.

Faguy, Sam Cabral & Ana. “What Do Pro-Palestinian Student Protesters at US Universities Want?” BBC News, May 3, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68908885.

“How Reliable Is Your News Source? Understanding Media Bias 2022.” MyLO, January 16, 2024. https://my.lwv.org/california/torrance-area/article/how-reliable-your-news-source-understanding-media-bias-2022.

Johnston, Angus. “Student Protests, Then and Now – The Chronicle of Higher …” The Chronicle of Higher Education. Accessed May 20, 2024. https://www.tjsl.edu/sites/default/files/files/Student Protests, Then and Now – The Chronicle of Higher Education.pdf.

“Kent State Shooting – Causes, Facts & Aftermath.” History.com. Accessed May 20, 2024. https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/kent-state-shooting.

Lewis, Jerry. “The May 4 Shootings at Kent State University: The …” Kent State University , 1998. https://www.stetson.edu/law/conferences/highered/archive/media/higher-ed-archives-2009/document/ii-lewis-may-4-shooting-at-kent-state-pdf.pdf.

Stahl, Maya. “Hundreds of Protesters Occupy South Lawn, Call for Divestment from Israel during Shafik Testimony.” Columbia Daily Spectator. Accessed May 18, 2024. https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2024/04/17/dozens-of-protesters-occupy-south-lawn-call-for-divestment-from-israel-ahead-of-shafik-testimony/.

“Where Protesters on U.S. Campuses Have Been Arrested or Detained.” The New York Times, May 2, 2024. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/us/pro-palestinian-college-protests-encampments.html.

Zunes, Stephen. “The US Anti-Vietnam War Movement (1964-1973).” ICNC, March 9, 2022. https://nonviolent-conflict.org/us-anti-vietnam-war-movement-1964-1973/#:~:text=Anti-war%20activities%2C%20particularly%20large,the%20draft%20by%20January%201973.