Since the Hamas terrorist attack on the seventh of October, the increasingly catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza has caused protests among students at, among others, the prestigious and prestigious Columbia University in New York.
The demonstrations have caused great tension between students and university management in several parts of the United States.
Switched to distance learning
At Columbia University, a large group of protesters have built a “Gaza solidarity camp” on campus. In connection with this, several Jewish students have stated that they were exposed to anti-Semitism at school.
At Columbia, it has gone so far that teaching is now only conducted remotely – just like during the pandemic.
– Several students I have spoken to feel that it has been difficult to get an education here recently, says SVT’s US correspondent Fouad Youcefi, who is on site at the university.
The protests spread
Last week, Columbia Chancellor Nemat Shafik was questioned in the US Congress about accusations of university anti-Semitism directed at the institution in connection with the demonstrations.
– The principal told about harassment and anti-Semitism that affected Jewish students at the school, says Fouad Youcefi.
After the hearing, the demonstrations escalated. The wave of protests, where students demand that the schools cut ties with Israel and Israeli universities, has now spread to universities such as Yale and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Joe Biden condemns
US President Joe Biden on Monday condemned “the anti-Semitic protests” and “those who do not understand what is happening in Palestine”. At Columbia in particular there is a long history of demonstrations and protests.
The protesters see the protests as part of their freedom of speech, while others – particularly Jewish students – say there is an anxiety about coming to the university.
It is unclear when the school can switch to on-site teaching again.
Tags: Large Gaza protests universities USA ahead distance learning
