Amid rising tensions surrounding Israel’s conflict with Hamas, some of the most prestigious universities in the United States, including Columbia, NYU, and Yale, are facing significant challenges as protests and campus safety concerns escalate, Associated Press reports.
Last week, over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were arrested at Columbia University after camping out on the campus green. Similar encampments have emerged at universities across the country, prompting administrators to grapple with balancing free expression and maintaining safe and inclusive environments.
The protests have divided students, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding that their schools condemn Israel’s actions and divest from companies with ties to the country’s military, while some Jewish students feel targeted and unsafe amid what they perceive as antisemitic rhetoric.
Columbia President Minouche Shafik announced that all classes would be held virtually, urging students not living on campus to stay away. The university is forming a working group to address the crisis, although it’s unclear when in-person classes will resume.
