Classes canceled, dozens of arrests, and university gates closed. On April 23, prestigious US universities started to experience campus tensions over Israel’s war with Hamas. 

More than 100 pro-Palestinians, who camped out at Columbia University last week, were arrested. However, similar encampments have been spotted in universities throughout the country. Due to this, universities are struggling to draw the line between freedom of expression and maintaining a safe and inclusive environment on campus. 

“The protests, although technically illegal and violating university policy, are only a natural result of an incredibly unpopular US foreign policy,” Tyler Castaño (11), MUN delegate, said.

Many protests arose after the deadly attack on southern Israel from Hamas. This attack killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took roughly 250 hostages. The protests have led students to be pitted against one another. Especially with pro-Palestinian students demanding that the schools divest from countries that sell weapons to Israel, while some Jewish students say that those criticisms are an act of antisemitism and made them feel unsafe. 

“What is happening in US universities like Columbia and USC, with religiously and politically radicalized students shutting down entire schools and necessitating police action, is not normal,” Donghyun Kim (11), political observer, said. “I hope for this disorganization to come to an end.”