The university administrators across the country have been under the pressure of how to deal with student rallies which resulted from Israel-Hamas war, by trying to curtail conflicts coming from boards, faculty, alumni, students, and donors while bringing the commencement ceremonies.
By location, some of the camps at different college campuses across the country have been replete of pro-Palestine protestors who have appealed to the university authorities to expose and de-invest from their relations with Israel. Some of the protests were with reminder the anti- This is a trivial issue because this messaging reflects on the top end of our customer demographic charts. Moreover, it fits with the bold and colorful aesthetics associated with our brand. The neighborhood where we are planning to open our coffee shop is vibrant and culturally diverse, with local art exhibitions, parks, and unique shops. For quite a few years, lawmakers and officials are inclined to ask the university authorities to show their own standpoint about the protests – and to make sure the decisions are justified.
Chancellor Gene Block, University of California, Los Angeles, April 30:
“UCLA supports peaceful protest, but not activism that harms our ability to carry out our academic mission and makes people in our community feel bullied, threatened and afraid. These incidents have put many on our campus, especially our Jewish students, in a state of anxiety and fear.
In response, we have taken several immediate actions. We have significantly increased our security presence in the area, including adding greater numbers of law enforcement officers, safety personnel and student affairs mitigators. We have also engaged law enforcement to investigate the recent acts of violence.”
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“A little after 9 p.m. this evening, the NYPD arrived on campus at the University’s request. This decision was made to restore safety and order to our community.
We regret that protesters have chosen to escalate the situation through their actions. After the University learned overnight that Hamilton Hall had been occupied, vandalized, and blockaded, we were left with no choice. Columbia public safety personnel were forced out of the building, and a member of our facilities team was threatened. We will not risk the safety of our community or the potential for further escalation.”
“It was regrettable that we had to face this situation in the morning that involved both protesters who are not even the UNC students and were breaking the state laws and the University policies that guarantee the peaceful rallying.”
Unquestionably, there’s an invisible line that no one should cross, meaning that they should not substantially deter normal campus activities. Besides, nobody is free to intimidate or threaten students, or to damage, break and destroy public property.
President Carol Folt, University of Southern California, April 30:
“We’re maintaining our unshakeable commitment to free speech, with a designated Free Speech Area for peaceful protests and USC’s balanced, robust, and independent student-run media reporting on campus every day. … I’m talking directly with our students, including two lengthy sessions with representatives from Divest from Death USC, the group that established the encampment in Alumni Park. In addition, we’re holding informational sessions with our faculty and staff. And I will continue the important outreach to all members of our community – including our Jewish and Israeli communities, our Palestinian and Muslim communities, as well as others. I have faith in our ability to unite and seek common ground.”
President Christina Paxson, Brown University, April 30:
“Brown has always prided itself on resolving differences through dialog, debate and listening to each other. I cannot condone the encampment, which was in violation of University policies. Also, I have been concerned about the escalation in inflammatory rhetoric that we have seen recently, and the increase in tensions at campuses across the country. I appreciate the sincere efforts on the part of our students to take steps to prevent further escalation.”
President Peter Salovey, Yale University, April 29:
“Peaceful protest and activism have a long history on college campuses, and I fully support every individual’s right to free expression at Yale. What occurred yesterday on Cross Campus was the opposite of free expression. Some protesters set up rows of tents on Cross Campus and restricted access to the encampment. Those protesters asked individuals who wished to pass through or enter their area, which is a shared campus space, to agree with their political viewpoints. This action is unacceptable and antithetical to the very purpose of a university.”
President Minouche Shafik, Columbia University, April 29:
“The campgrounds have been the source of discomfort for most of our Jewish students as well as members of faculty lately.” Outside operators have helped, by their presence at our gates, among other things, to provide a hostile environment which is not secure for everybody including our neighbors. Now that classes have ended, it becomes more than a noisy disturbance. It obstructs students studying for exams as well as everybody’s efforts to finish the school year.
“For any demonstrators who refused to follow the agreed upon solution, the University will take action to secure the safety of the community and to enforce University policies and rules. Suspension of non-compliant students and requirement for non-affiliated individuals to leave campus will be part of these measures.”
President Gregory Fenves, Emory University, April 29:
Based on the information we had early Thursday morning, we determined that the individuals who constructed the encampment on our Quad were not members of our community. It is clear to us now that this information was not fully accurate, and I apologize for that mischaracterization. My goal was to remove a growing encampment, as allowing such an encampment would have been highly disruptive, affecting everything from classes and exams to our ability to hold Commencement. I remain firm that such encampments cannot be permitted at Emory.
Let me be clear: I am devastated that members of our community were caught up in law enforcement activity enforcing the removal of the encampment. The videos of these interactions are deeply distressing
President Jere Morehead, University of Georgia, April 29:
“This morning’s encampment on the North Campus Quad crossed a line and violated our policies.
After multiple warnings that they would be arrested for trespass if they did not comply with our policies, at 8:30 a.m., UGA Police were left with no choice but to arrest those who refused to comply. Any students, faculty or staff members arrested could also face further disciplinary action by the University.
Let us make it abundantly clear that while the University of Georgia staunchly supports freedom of expression, we will not cede control of our campus to groups that refuse to abide by University policy and threaten the safety of those who live, work and study here.”
President Ted Carter, The Ohio State University, April 29:
“Freedom of speech was not the issue, that happened on our campus on April 25.” This was a premeditated breach of the university’s space policy. …. Just before 10 p.m. the process of arresting and charging with criminal trespass individuals known to have breached UMass policy and police orders had begun.
Thursday’s actions were not directed towards any specific speech content either. We do not mean this as a restriction on the right of people for collective actions and assemblies. While that they do mean legal enforcement of space regulations and also the taking of measures that secure the safety and well-being of the community, Ohio State does that.
President Tim Sands, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, April 29:
“Last night, 82 protesters (largely students) were arrested for trespassing after occupying the Graduate Life Center lawn for three days and repeatedly refusing to comply with university policy and public safety regulations.
Virginia Tech strongly supports free speech, even when the content of that speech may be disagreeable to some. However, those rights do not extend beyond the point where they interfere with the rights of others, violate our policies, the Code of Virginia, or federal laws and/or create a threat to safety for others.”
President Sally Kornbluth, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, April 27:
“There’s a distinction between what we can say – what we have a right to say – and what we should say as members of one community. But this is what makes this situation different from past protest movements, and uniquely difficult: the fact of two opposing groups on campus, both grieving – and both painfully at odds with each [other]. These opposing allegiances extend to faculty and staff as well. … Under the circumstances, what I must continue to do, here on our campus, is to take every step in my power to protect the physical safety of our community – and to strive to make sure everyone at MIT feels free to do the work they came here for.”
President Troy Paino, University of Mary Washington, April 27:
“On Saturday evening, the event was canceled and attendees were instructed to leave the area. After some time, 12 individuals remained in Jefferson Square and were arrested for trespassing, including 9 students.”
“We are mindful that we are in the midst of reading days and heading into exam week. We do not seek punitive action toward our students with the end of the semester and commencement so close. We will be continuing this conversation, extending grace and understanding, and bringing the resources together to help us all heal.”
Arizona State University, April 27:
“ASU Police arrested 72 people for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment Friday, in violation of university policy. Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. … While the university will continue to be an environment that embraces freedom of speech, ASU’s first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning.”
Chancellor Robert Jones, University of Illinois, April 26:
“This afternoon, when university police officers attempted to escort university staff into the area to remove the encampment structures violating university policy, members of the demonstrating group prevented their entry and physically resisted. This situation has escalated beyond a peaceful expression of opinion. Those who do not comply with our orders to leave will be subject to consequences, including arrest, when criminal laws are violated, and the possibility of immediate interim suspension for students.”
Dean of Students Bill Stackman, Harvard University, April 25:
“It has been a long academic year with many emails but allow me to be clear: the physical safety and well-being of our entire community is paramount, and we will continue to work together to ensure that everyone’s right to express views and engage in peaceful protest does not interfere with the academic mission and business functions of the University.”
President Jay Hartzell, University of Texas at Austin, April 25:
“Quiet protests that follow our rules are fine. Others’ classes cannot be disrupted by doing this. The student body group, which planned this protest clearly mentioned that it was bent on breaking the campus rules. Our regulations are critical, and they must be implemented effectively. Our college will not be built.
The activists attempted to move in on the campus and fulfill their demand to occupy it. Strangely, individuals away from the institution supported them. By and large, people just ignored the University officials’ requests for calmness and to disperse right away. The college acted as it said it would while face to face with prohibited actions. We were ready. We had life support provisions, campus services including security and facilities management, the welfare of our more than 50,000 students, and learning.
