After a semester marked by massive protests on college campuses across the country that raised questions about free speech, how universities confront allegations of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, and how they invest. , some students who experienced the demonstrations said they were disappointed in the university's approach.
Anne-Marie Jardine, 22, who graduated from the University of Texas at Austin this year, said she was “really proud of my class and everyone who participated,” but felt the school “didn't really care.” He said he was there. ” about the students.
“If you need support, if you want to feel like your voice matters, if you want to feel safe, this is not the place,” Jardine said. “I hate that school.”
Jardine was one of about 140 people arrested at two campus protests in late April. She said she was participating in an “incredibly peaceful” protest on April 24 when law enforcement officers arrived to arrest them.
She said several officers grabbed her and threw her to the ground, pulling her hair and arm, leaving her with cuts, bruises and a sprained neck, arm and lower back.
“I never expected to be exposed to this level of violence,” Jardine said.
The university's president on April 24 called the day “a day of challenge for many.”
“The protesters sought to fulfill their stated intent of occupying the campus,” Jay Herzl said. “People not affiliated with the university also participated, and many ignored university officials' constant appeals for restraint and immediate dissolution. The university will act as we say we will in response to prohibited conduct. Did.”
Erwin Heillein, 19, a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin who was also arrested, said he was outraged by the school's treatment of students.
“I feel like I’m almost mourning a part of the legacy that I thought I stepped into,” said the third-generation University of Texas student.
“Why would they do this to my fellow students? I am deeply angered by the militarization of our campus,” she said.
Heillein said she plans to take some time this summer to “heal physically and mentally” after the traumatic experience of being arrested by police during a protest.
Jardine and Heillein were arrested on suspicion of trespassing. The charges were later dropped. The University of Texas at Austin did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations.
Since mid-April, dozens of protests over Israel's war in Gaza have taken place at universities across the country. The protests, which included clashes between students and police on some campuses, resulted in nearly 3,000 arrests, according to a tally by NBC News. Although many universities have defended their decision to call in law enforcement, the intensity of the police response in some cases has led to protests, particularly after police were called in to clear Columbia University buildings. It has drawn harsh criticism from activists, activists and their allies. occupied by demonstrators.
The university also said that since the Israeli-Hamas war began on October 7, both Jewish and Muslim students believe warnings of rising anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on campus have been ignored. has incurred the wrath of
Jacob Schmeltz, who graduated from Columbia University this month, said that Columbia and other universities encourage rational conversations around the most controversial topics, “even when it goes beyond really painful and divisive issues.'' He said he believes it should be a place that fosters dialogue.
“Unfortunately, I've been thinking a lot about how Columbia specifically failed this test in this regard,” said Schmertz, 22, vice president of the Campus Jewish Student Union. ) said.
He said he was relieved to finish his last semester and graduate.
“Trust between students and universities, trust between colleagues has been completely broken,” he said. “Colombia has a lot of work to do over the summer to rebuild this trust.”
Colombia did not respond to a request for comment.
Eli Hiekari, who just graduated from the University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business last week, said he ended the school year shocked by what he saw on campus. He said he feels anti-Semitism has overshadowed many of his interactions with protesters and is frustrated with university authorities. He felt the encampments had been left on campus for too long and concerns about anti-Semitism were not adequately addressed.
“There's a lot of hate, but hate doesn't solve anything. I hope that better days will come,” said Hiekari, 22.
Jewish students who oppose Israel's actions have also played a central role in pro-Palestinian protests, with campus groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace organizing Passover seders at encampments and elsewhere.
Student protesters also criticized the school's response to allegations of hate on campus.
Danica Gonzalez, a rising sophomore at the University of Southern California who took part in the protest, said some of the counter-protesters became violent and started fights, but she said they weren't talking to pro-Palestinian groups. He said he believes it hasn't been scrutinized in the same way.
“We are the ones who get the police called, the ones who get shot with rubber bullets, the ones who get arrested,” she said.
“The safety and security of our entire university community has been, and continues to be, our top priority,” the University of Southern California said in a statement to NBC News on Friday. He said a number of steps have been taken to improve safety.
The school also said that while it respects freedom of speech, it “firmly opposes any language that calls for violence against religious or other groups.” Hate speech is contrary to our values and we firmly oppose anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, racism and xenophobia. ”
Sink, 18, a rising sophomore at California's Pomona College, criticized the school's disparate response to claims of Islamophobia compared to claims of anti-Semitism.
“I think some Muslim, Arab and Palestinian students didn’t receive the same care and welfare considerations as Jewish students,” she says. “The focus was always on making sure Jewish students felt safe on campus, not Muslim students. There was a huge disparity.”
Pomona College told NBC News, “Pomona College is committed to continuously and comprehensively confronting all forms of common ancestry discrimination. We will continue to enforce our policies, promote safety, and address these disruptions.” “We will actively combat all forms of discrimination.” dislike. “
Dozens of camps that sprung up on campuses across the country last month as protests escalated were cleared this month ahead of graduation season. With their removal, some schools have reported reaching agreements with protesters on a list of demands. Many protesters called on schools to cut funding to Israel.
Harvard University announced this week that it would meet with protesters to discuss disclosure and divestment. He also said that he plans to take steps to reinstate students who have been suspended.
Protesters at the University of California, Berkeley began clearing their positions on Tuesday after the school agreed to support investments in the school and begin a “rigorous review.” The university president is also expected to issue an official statement calling for a ceasefire.
So far, no school has fully agreed to the sale.
But Gonzalez said she is frustrated by the growing rift between students and USC administration over transparency regarding financial investments.
Sink asked that his last name not be used for reasons of safety and retaliation. She said she came to the school because of its “commitment to social justice and intellectual passion, and to a radically imagined world.”
“I now realize that my school is doing everything in its power to maintain the status quo and to silence and demonize students who are fighting for a better world.”
Sink was one of the protesters who camped at the school's graduation ceremony site from Monday to Saturday last week.
She said students will continue to protest throughout the summer in hopes of getting the university to address their concerns.
“I will continue our deep commitment to liberation and divestment until the administration has no choice.” [but] To listen. “I'm willing to divest even if it takes four years,” she said.
Noah Fay, a Barnard graduate who participated in Jewish activities on campus, said the tensions that existed during the school year were inevitable at graduation. But she's hopeful the school community will find a way to work through it.
“This is not how we as a Barnard Sisterhood community should treat each other,” said Fay, 23. “Bernard is going through some kind of turbulent period.”
