Crackdowns on US college protests serve only to disenfranchise youth and miss the point

Outlet: Arab News

Language: English

Abstract: American universities, long heralded as bastions of free speech and engines of social change, now face a troubling decline in their handling of the Palestinian solidarity movement. Recent events at Columbia University, where over 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were met with police intervention and arrests, exemplify a disturbing shift from engagement to suppression. This response, mirrored across numerous campuses with nearly 1,000 detentions nationwide, starkly contrasts with the universities' historic role as safe spaces for open debate and dissent. The aggressive crackdowns reveal a deeper crisis in university governance, prioritizing public image over academic freedoms and student engagement. This shift risks alienating students and undermines the core mission of higher education to foster a diverse and inclusive exchange of ideas. To reclaim their role as catalysts for societal evolution, universities must embrace dialogue and uphold the values of free thought and inquiry that have defined them.

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