After a semester marked by widespread protests on college campuses across the nation, some students have expressed disappointment in how their universities responded to the demonstrations. Students at the University of Texas at Austin, including Anne-Marie Jardine and Arwyn Heilrayne, were among those arrested during protests. They felt that their school failed to support, listen to, or protect them during the events, leaving them feeling unsafe and unwelcome on campus. Charges against the students were later dropped, but the damage to their trust in the university was already done.
Throughout the semester, protests erupted at various universities over Israel’s war in Gaza, leading to confrontations with law enforcement and nearly 3,000 arrests. Some universities faced criticism for their response to the protests, with students feeling that their safety and concerns were not adequately addressed. Jewish and Muslim students also raised concerns about the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campus, feeling that the universities had not taken their warnings seriously. Allegations of hate on campus were also not handled effectively, with protests becoming violent and one-sided.
Students, such as Jacob Schmeltz and Eli Hiekali, who recently graduated felt relieved to be done with a difficult semester marked by campus unrest and a loss of trust between students and their universities. Universities like Columbia and the University of Southern California were seen to have failed in fostering rational conversations and addressing concerns from both Jewish and Muslim student groups. Despite resistance and criticism from students, some universities have begun to address demands from protesters, including divestment from financial support of Israel and supporting a cease-fire.
At Harvard University, discussions on disclosure and divestment will begin, while the University of California, Berkeley, has agreed to support a “rigorous examination” of their investments. However, no schools have fully agreed to divestment yet. Students like Danica Gonzalez and Sinq, who continue to push for divestment and social justice, are frustrated by the growing rift between students and university administrations. They feel that their universities are not listening to their concerns or actively working towards a more just and equitable world. Despite challenges, students remain committed to protesting and advocating for change on their campuses. Barnard College graduate Noa Fay also expressed hope that her school community will find a way to move past the tensions of the past year.
