By: Kloe Adams
Humor Editor
College campuses across the United States began experiencing pro-Palestine student protests during April of 2024, with the first beginning at Columbia University in New York. While some universities have reached agreements with on-campus demonstrators, others have cited safety concerns and canceled, postponed, or relocated their schoolwide end-of-the-year ceremonies.
Police arrested nineteen individuals on May 17 at the University of Pennsylvania, including seven students. The arrest followed an attempt by pro-Palestine demonstrators to occupy a university building. The group, Penn Against the Occupation, announced their intention to occupy Fisher-Bennet Hall in a post on the group’s Instagram account, calling for people to “flood UPenn for Palestine.” Last Friday’s arrest follows the arrest of 33 people on May 10, when law enforcement broke down a pro-Palestine encampment built on campus. The latest campus arrests also come before the university’s commencement ceremony, where students and their families will be subjected to extra safety procedures. The university described these procedures as “airport-style security screening.” Guests and graduates will not be allowed to bring posters, signs, flags, or noisemakers according to school officials.
At the University of California Los Angeles, the school rejected a resolution of no confidence and censure and brought back the school’s chancellor, Gene Block, on May 16. The resolutions were brought forward because of an attack from counter protestors on an encampment of pro-Palestine protesters on the school’s campus on Apr. 30. The no-confidence resolution failed when only 43 percent of members voted in its favor. The resolution to censure also failed to get the majority of votes required to pass by the senate. “It is clear that we are not united in how we view the major events of the past weeks and the campus response to them,” Chair Andrea M. Kasko said May 17 in a statement. “I hope that we can try to find common ground as colleagues, and have the courage to listen with open minds and open hearts even when we do not agree.” Additionally, Mildred García, the chancellor of the California State University System, announced Mike Lee, Sonoma State University President, would be stepping down after he sent a message “concerning an agreement with campus protesters … without the appropriate approvals.”
Columbia University announced May 6 that it has canceled its commencement ceremonies because of disruptions caused by pro-Palestine protests. The university’s graduation was set to take place on May 15 on the main lawn, which is where a protest encampment was based until authorities dismantled it. University officials said the past few weeks have been “incredibly difficult” for the community, resulting in their decision to cancel the ceremony after discussing it with students. Students will still be able to celebrate at a series of smaller, school-based ceremonies, which will take place about five miles north at Columbia’s sports complex.
In addition to Columbia canceling its graduation, the University of Southern California said it would not host its ceremony, which was scheduled for May 10, because of new safety measures that would have increased the time needed to process the 65,000 students and guests. The school announced “We understand that this is disappointing, however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful.”
(Sources: AP News,CNN)