By Isabelle Taft
Following unrest from pro-Palestinian protests and encampments last spring, colleges and universities have tightened protest regulations, secured campus entrances, and imposed harsher penalties.
The measures appear to be effective.
This semester, nearly 950 protest events have been logged, a significant drop from the 3,000 recorded last semester, as noted by the Nonviolent Action Lab at Harvard University’s Ash Center. Reports from The New York Times indicate that about 50 individuals have been arrested at protests on college campuses this academic year, in stark contrast to over 3,000 arrests last semester.
These protests were triggered by Israel’s reaction to an attack carried out by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals and around 250 individuals taken hostage, according to Israeli officials. Subsequently, Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip have reportedly claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives, as per health authorities in Gaza.
This fall, when students have protested, university administrators have strictly enforced newly established regulations aimed at addressing last spring’s disruptions. These recent actions have led to unprecedented scenes, especially at institutions that have traditionally embraced student activism.
Harvard imposed a temporary ban on numerous students and faculty from library access after they took part in silent “study-ins,” where demonstrators occupy library tables displaying anti-war signs regarding the Gaza conflict, although a similar demonstration in December 2023 faced no disciplinary action. At Indiana University Bloomington, several students and faculty attending candlelight vigils were subjected to disciplinary actions based on a newly instituted rule against expressive activities after 11 p.m. Meanwhile, at the University of Pennsylvania, campus police and officials with zip ties instructed vigil participants to relocate because they hadn’t reserved the area according to new regulations.
In New Jersey’s Montclair State University, law enforcement officers frequently outnumber protesters at a weekly rally where demonstrators display placards featuring images of children who lost their lives in Gaza along with the message “We mourn.”
“They claim it’s for our safety, but I believe it’s really to maintain control over us,” stated Tasneem Abdulazeez, a student enrolled in the teaching program.
These changes were influenced by federal civil rights complaints, lawsuits, and rigorous congressional examination accusing universities of permitting antisemitism, due to some demonstrators who endorsed Hamas and called for violence against Israelis.
Some students and faculty have welcomed the calmer atmosphere on campuses. Conversely, others perceive this relative silence as the unpleasant outcome of a clampdown on pro-Palestinian expressions. They are concerned that President-elect Donald Trump, who previously urged universities to “eliminate the radicals,” may escalate the pressure.
In many incidents, academic institutions are implementing regulations that were established before the academic year commenced. Although specifics vary, these generally set limitations on when, where, and what kind of protests are allowed.
Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors and a media studies associate professor at Rutgers University, noted that these restrictions have instilled fear among individuals.
“There’s a strong sense that they are being monitored and observed,” he mentioned. “Consequently, a significant amount of self-censorship is occurring.”
However, Jewish students who felt targeted by protesters have commended the regulations — and the swift enforcement by academic institutions — for fostering a sense of order and safety. Naomi Lamb, director of Hillel at Ohio State University, remarked that the new protest guidelines seem to be effectively implemented.
“I value the response from administrators aimed at minimizing antisemitic actions and rhetoric,” she expressed.
Some strategies employed by protesters last semester have faced rigorous reactions this academic year. At the University of Minnesota, 11 people were arrested after occupying a campus building. Last year, several universities allowed protesters to occupy buildings overnight and even for extended periods.
At Pomona College in California, the president invoked “extraordinary authority” to bypass standard disciplinary procedures and swiftly suspend or exclude certain pro-Palestinian protesters who occupied a building on Oct. 7 this year. A college spokesperson stated that this unusual action was justified due to property damage, safety threats, and class disruptions caused by the occupation, and highlighted that students were afforded opportunities to respond to the accusations against them.
Some campuses have seen protesters adopting new approaches to contest the fresh restrictions.
Similar “study-ins” as those at Harvard have also occurred at Ohio State, Tulane University, and the University of Texas at Austin. Students typically don kaffiyehs and affix signs to their laptops with statements such as “Our tuition funds genocide.”
“This tactic is designed to put the administration in a difficult position: they can either overlook it or enforce the rules and appear unkind,” explained Jay Ulfelder, research project manager at Harvard’s Nonviolent Action Lab.
A spokesperson from Harvard indicated that a statement issued by university leadership in January 2024 clearly stated that demonstrations are not permitted within libraries or other academic areas on campus.
During Sukkot, the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest, members from the anti-Zionist group Jewish Voice for Peace constructed “solidarity sukkahs” at approximately 20 universities, including Northwestern and UCLA. These sukkahs, or huts, symbolize the structures the Israelites inhabited during their 40-year desert wanderings and are often adorned with gourds, fruit, and lights. JVP participants included signs proclaiming “Stop Arming Israel.”
According to JVP, these sukkahs were dismantled at nine institutions, with administrators citing fresh rules that prohibit unauthorized structures.
When maintenance staff arrived with tools to remove the sukkah at Northwestern, JVP members told them it was inappropriate to do so before the week’s end of the holiday, as stated by senior Paz Baum.
“Their focus isn’t on our rights to practice our religion,” Baum remarked. “Their priority is restricting Palestinian discourse.”
The new regulations may not solely account for the decline in protest activity this semester. Some protest factions have adopted more aggressive rhetoric — for instance, supporting Hamas’ incursions into Israel — which may have alienated some students who had previously empathized with their cause.
Nonetheless, little has changed regarding the lack of agreement on what constitutes safety on campus and when criticism of Israel crosses into antisemitism.
At Montclair State, where pro-Palestinian protesters have voiced concerns over the number of police present at their events, President Jonathan Koppell stated that he is trying to balance “competing priorities.”
In an interview, Koppell mentioned the necessity for police presence at protests to safeguard all campus individuals, including the demonstrators. He emphasized that protests on campus have remained peaceful and participants have behaved “responsibly.”
He acknowledged that some community members have urged him to ban pro-Palestinian events entirely, a request he has thus far declined.
“There’s a desire among some for unrestricted speech, while others seek a setting with strict limitations on protest activities,” Koppell observed. “Individuals desiring absolutes in either direction will likely find dissatisfaction.”
While universities are intensifying enforcement, administrators and faculty express concern that the federal government under Trump might push for more changes at educational institutions.
However, much remains uncertain about the potential outcomes. Trump’s nominee for the Department of Education, Linda McMahon, has less educational experience than most prior secretaries and has said little regarding campus protests publicly.
Abed A. Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, expressed doubt that Trump could further exacerbate hostility toward pro-Palestinian protests on campuses beyond the existing climate.
“Will they continue their crackdown on anti-Israel rhetoric? I believe they will,” he stated, referencing universities. “This trend isn’t solely due to Trump’s presidency; it has been an ongoing process.”
