Gaza-Israel war: Top US universities struggle to deal with student protests

The student protests that started to protest the war in Gaza have now spread to other universities beyond Columbia and Yale University in the United States.

University officials are struggling to deal with the growing protests.

Dozens of students were arrested at Yale University on Monday to stop the protests. On the other hand, in-person classes have been temporarily suspended on campus at Columbia University for fear of spreading anti-Semitism.

Protests have also spread to other colleges and universities, including Berkeley, California.

Meanwhile, it is said that the pressure is increasing day by day on the officials of the educational institutions to stop the protests and keep the campus calm.

The Israel-Gaza war began on October 7 last year due to Hamas attacks. Since then, pro-war demonstrations and debates have been on the rise at top US universities.

Students on both sides claim that both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have recently increased on university campuses.

Columbia University authorities allowed New York City police to enter the campus last week to quell the protests. There, the police arrested dozens of protesting students, which made headlines around the world.

On the other hand, protests have spread in several other educational institutions in the United States after the arrest of students.

Police arrested about 50 students who protested at Yale University on Monday to deal with the situation. Hundreds of students of the university have been protesting in the campus for the past few days.

The university authorities said that despite “repeated requests” by the protesters to keep the campus calm, they ignored them. That’s why they reported to the police under a lot of compulsion.

On the other hand, many of the protesters called for a reduction in investment in the military arms manufacturing sector.

Other universities in the United States where protests have spread include: University of California, University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Emerson College.

About 12 kilometers south of Columbia, the protestors have pitched tents at New York University.

Student protesters at New York University, like some other universities, have called for divestment from companies that supply Israeli arms.

However, there are also accusations of spreading anti-Semitism from these protests.

A video posted on social media also showed some protesters expressing support for Hamas attacks on Israel.

Protesters, however, have denied the accusations of spreading anti-Semitism. They say that their protest and criticism is only against the activities of the State of Israel.

Meanwhile, Columbia University authorities said on Monday that all their classes will be online for the time being.

Columbia University President Minoche Shafiq said in a statement that university authorities made the decision to avoid “intimidating and harassing behavior.”

Students who do not live on campus are advised to stay off campus.

A Jewish chaplain associated with the university also sent a message to Columbia’s three hundred Jewish students, asking them to stay off campus until the situation “improved.”

In addition, the president of Columbia University said in a statement. Shafiq said that to unsettle the campus, “a group of people who are not affiliated with Columbia have taken up residence on the campus to protect their own interests by spreading protests.”

“The university administration has formed a committee to resolve this crisis,” he said in the statement.

Dr. along with other officials of the university. Shafiq visited Capitol Hill last week. There they testified before a committee of the US government.

They have been urged to tackle anti-Semitism in the university as well as resolve the issues that have arisen.

A group of federal lawmakers led by New York Republican Representative Ellis Stefanik signed a letter on Monday, where Dr. Shafiq has been called upon to resign.

In the letter, Ms. Stefanik said, “The university administration has failed to stop the anti-Semitic protests.”

On the other hand, Democrat representatives Jared Moskowitz, Josh Gottheimer, Dan Goldman and Cathy Manning visited the Columbia University campus after the protests began.

Josh Gottheimer said university officials will “pay a price” if Jewish students don’t feel safe at Columbia as a result of the ongoing protests.

In addition, in a letter posted on social media, North Carolina Republican Representative Virginia Fox wrote that “Columbia University administration has failed to restore law and order and security.” Virginia Fox currently serves as the chair of the House Education Committee.

Meanwhile, many donors have warned that they will stop funding the university if the protests are not stopped soon.

Columbia University alumnus Robert Craft is one of those who have warned. He owns the New England Patriots NFL team.

Mr. Kraft said he would suspend financial aid to the university “until corrective action is taken.”

On the other hand, several teachers feel that the university authorities are also responsible for the rapid spread of the protests.

They feel that it is wrong to call the police to the university campus without stopping the protest in a peaceful manner.

President Joe Biden was asked to respond Monday to the protests that have spread to top universities in the United States. He condemned “anti-Semitic protests”.

In addition to university protests, there have been widespread protests in the United States over the Gaza war.

Pro-Palestinian protesters recently demonstrated in Chicago.

In addition, protests were seen blocking roads in many other places, including San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.