How Responses to Campus Protests Differed Nationwide
Summary from the AllSides News Team
U.S. schools have had vastly different responses to pro-Palestine protests on their campuses over the past few weeks.
Police Intervention: At Columbia University, the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), and many others, police were summoned to quell protests that in some cases had turned violent and significantly disrupted campus operations.
Striking Deals: At Northwestern University and Brown University, protesters agreed to disband encampments in exchange for school officials considering divesting from Israel. Portland State University agreed to pause donations to Boeing, which makes some aircraft used by the Israeli military, but protests on the campus continue.
Minimal Interaction: At UC Berkeley, protesters have been allowed to maintain a protest space in front of Sproul Hall since April 22, and few examples of violence have been reported.
How the Media Covered It: Many outlets on the left and some in the center seem to sympathize with the protesters; outlets on the right often sympathize with police and people affected by campus disruptions. Some sources framed police intervention as a threat to student safety. Reuters (Center bias) said California schools had "seen in the past where police involvement can lead." Others, like the Washington Examiner (Lean Right), praised police responses as "swift and successful."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Why universities turn to the police to end student protests − and why that can spiral out of controlThe first documented appearance of a sworn police officer patrolling a college campus was in 1894 at Yale University.
Generally, there have been two approaches to police on university or college campuses. Initially, university administrators asked local police to respond to issues with antiwar demonstrators during the Vietnam War and with women’s rights protests in the 1960s. When many of those encounters did not go very well for anyone, campus police departments were created. Today, about two-thirds of universities and colleges – mainly public ones, like University of California, Los Angeles – have their...
From the Center
Berkeley takes light touch on Gaza protests. Columbia called the policeAt Columbia University, tensions between the administration and students protesting over Israel's war in Gaza have reached the point that scores of New York City police marched onto campus to clear an encampment and arrest demonstrators who had commandeered a classroom building.
It was the second time in as many weeks that the administration has called on police to control the protests. Students have been suspended, and threatened with expulsion. Police are now stationed around-the-clock on campus.
From the Right
Columbia to UCLA: How 21 universities have responded to campus protestsCollege campuses across the United States have seen massive upheaval due to pro-Palestinian protests.
Columbia University, the school with likely the most high-profile protest encampment, was forced to navigate difficult circumstances with the nation watching. The school has been criticized by people on both sides of the issue, and many other colleges now share the spotlight.
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