NEW YORK — As students head back to colleges across the United States, campus administrators are preparing for a renewed wave of activism against the ongoing war in Gaza. In response, several universities are implementing new regulations aimed at curtailing protests similar to those that dominated campuses last spring.
While summer offered a brief pause in student demonstrations regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict, it also provided an opportunity for both activists and university officials to strategize for the upcoming fall semester.
The situation remains tense. At Columbia University, the epicenter of pro-Palestinian protests, President Minouche Shafik recently resigned amidst heavy criticism regarding her management of the demonstrations. This decision followed the resignations of three deans who exchanged disparaging messages during a campus discussion addressing Jewish life and antisemitism.
In an effort to manage protests, universities are enacting restrictions such as banning encampments, limiting the duration of demonstrations, confining protests to designated areas, and allowing campus access solely to individuals with university identification. Critics assert that these measures threaten free speech.
At Harvard University, a leaked document indicated that the school was considering bans on overnight camping, chalk messages, and unapproved signage in order to navigate potential protests.
U.S. student activists remain resolute in their commitment to advocacy, driven by escalating casualties in Gaza, where the death toll has recently surpassed 40,000, according to local health authorities.
Tensions escalated on college campuses following the attacks by Hamas militants on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of about 250 hostages.
Mahmoud Khalil, a leading activist at Columbia, anticipates that protests, including encampments, will resume this fall. Khalil stated, “As long as Columbia continues to invest in and benefit from the Israeli apartheid, the students will continue their activism in various forms.”
Around 50 students are currently facing disciplinary actions stemming from last spring’s demonstrations, after a mediation process stalled earlier this summer, a situation Khalil attributes to university administrators.
“The administration’s claimed dialogue with students has proven to be nothing more than empty gestures aimed at appeasing donors and political stakeholders,” he remarked.
The university has yet to issue a response regarding these developments. Columbia has previously faced intense scrutiny, including police intervention during protests where officers with zip ties and riot shields confronted demonstrators advocating for Palestinian rights. Protests at numerous campuses nationwide have also led to violent confrontations with security forces, resulting in over 3,000 arrests.
While many students arrested during these events have had their charges dismissed, others remain in limbo as they await prosecutorial decisions. Many have experienced academic repercussions, such as suspensions and delayed graduations.
Shafik’s resignation comes on the heels of increasing pressure from various quarters, including a congressional inquiry where she faced criticism for her handling of antisemitism on campus. In her resignation letter, Shafik cited personal hardships and expressed that her departure would help the university navigate future challenges.
Columbia’s Board of Trustees has appointed Katrina Armstrong, CEO of Columbia University Irving Medical Center, as interim president.
Pro-Palestinian protests first gained momentum on Columbia’s campus during Shafik’s congressional testimony in April, where she condemned antisemitism but faced backlash for her responses to the ongoing student activism.
Following police intervention to dismantle protest encampments, students returned to occupy spaces in protest against the university’s financial ties with Israel and corporations involved in the conflict.
Despite the summer lull, renewed tensions could arise as Columbia implements tighter restrictions on campus access, limiting entry to those with appropriate identification.
Shafik’s tenure was notably short and marked by significant challenges and controversies, mirroring the experiences of other prominent Ivy League leaders who have stepped down amid similar pressures and protests. Notably, University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill and Harvard University President Claudine Gay both resigned in recent months in the wake of protests and scrutiny over their responses to campus unrest.
As the academic year begins, the landscape on college campuses remains fraught with tensions regarding activism, institutional responses, and the overarching humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
