Conflict on college campuses across the country continues as those against Israel persist in pushing colleges to meet their demands.
Columbia University cancelled its main graduation ceremony due to ongoing campus unrest related to protests against Israel.
In a statement Columbia officials announced on Monday that graduates would take part in school-level ceremonies instead of a university-wide commencement. The letter did not directly address the protests but mentioned that Columbia would focus on keeping the ceremonies safe and respectful.
That same day, 13 federal judges stated that they would not hire clerks from Columbia. not hire The letter criticizes Columbia’s President Minouche Shafik for not taking stronger actions against students and faculty involved in on-campus protests.
“Considering recent events, and unless there are major changes, we will not hire anyone who joins the Columbia University community — whether as graduates or law students — starting with the entering class of 2024,” the judges wrote.
Last week, the administrative board of student editors of Columbia Law Review called for the university’s law school administration to postpone upcoming exams and either give every student a passing grade or switch to a pass-or-fail grading system for the semester. cancel “Videos have circulated of police in riot gear mocking and brutalizing our students,” the editors wrote, referring to when the protest at the university supposedly became more violent. “The event of last night left us, and many of our peers, unable to focus and highly emotional during this tumultuous time.”
In Texas, those against Israel gathered at UT Austin on Sunday to demand that the university divest from businesses associated with Israel and that UT Austin’s President Jay Hartzell step down. referring UT police, officers with the Austin Police Department, and state troopers remained close by, but no arrests were made as the protest remained peaceful.
Hartzell broke his silence last week, responding for the first time to the campus protests that have resulted in the arrests of over 100 individuals. demand “I am grateful to work at a university where students, faculty, and staff care deeply enough about community, national, and world events to rally around those causes,” said Hartzell. “It is difficult — for all of us — to see serious police presence and arrests on our campus. It is worse, though, to see a handful of people flout rules meant to protect everyone.”
Hartzell blamed protests unaffiliated with UT Austin students for inciting violence that led to the clash between demonstrators and police.
Some UT Austin faculty wrote a letter of no confidence in Hartzell following the protests, expressing their lack of trust in his ability to manage the school. The letter has amassed over 600 signatures from faculty. silence Still, on Friday, nearly 40 individuals signed a statement written by the Alums for Campus Fairness applauding Hartzell’s commitment to keeping the campus safe. arrest On that very day, faculty at UT Dallas released another
condemning the UT Dallas administration’s decision to bring in police at a
protest, where students had set up an encampment on campus.
The letter had three requests for university leadership, written like this: letter To drop or avoid pursuing legal charges against all individuals; April 24 Allow student activists to finish their semesters’ coursework without suspension, expulsion, or other punishment this semester and without limiting their future options to enroll in classes or live in university housing;
Confirm that faculty who were detained will face no professional consequences. letter Moreover, the letter expresses the strong objection of the faculty to the suspension or expulsion of students participating in the protests. At least 70 faculty members have signed the letter.
The student government posted its response to the May 1 protest on
“UTD Student Government is horrified and outraged at this violent and disproportionate response, and we condemn the use of force to silence our community. We believe that all Comets have the right to free speech and to express their opinions through peaceful protests.” letter The Islamic Association of North Texas also released a letter that included a May 1 of 15 questions for city leaders following the protest. The group asked why the Richardson Police Department was called despite there allegedly being “no imminent threat of violence on campus” and why the arrested students and community members were taken to Collin County jail, over 20 miles away from the campus.
The letter has since been signed by 27 other Dallas businesses and organizations.
UT Arlington’s Progressive Students Association released a list of six
aimed at the school’s administration. Some demands include more financial transparency between UT Arlington and military contractors, divestment from weapons manufacturers doing business with Israel, and for study abroad programs to Israel to be canceled.
Tensions on college campuses in different parts of the country are still making headlines as anti-Israel agitators remain undeterred in their efforts to compel institutions of higher learning to meet their demands. Columbia University canceled its main commencement ceremony after ongoing campus unrest over anti-Israel protests. In a statement released on Monday, Columbia officials announced […]
Additionally, the letter states that the faculty strongly object to the suspension or expulsion of students participating in the protests. At least 70 faculty members have signed the letter.
The student government posted its response to the May 1 protest on Instagram:
“UTD Student Government is horrified and outraged at this violent and disproportionate response, and we condemn the use of force to silence our community. We believe that all Comets have the right to free speech and to express their opinions through peaceful protests.”
The Islamic Association of North Texas also released a letter that included a list of 15 questions for city leaders following the protest. The group asked why the Richardson Police Department was called despite there allegedly being “no imminent threat of violence on campus” and why the arrested students and community members were taken to Collin County jail, over 20 miles away from the campus.
The letter has since been signed by 27 other Dallas businesses and organizations.
UT Arlington’s Progressive Students Association released a list of six demands aimed at the school’s administration. Some demands include more financial transparency between UT Arlington and military contractors, divestment from weapons manufacturers doing business with Israel, and for study abroad programs to Israel to be canceled.
