This spring, campus protests regarding Israel/Palestine have spread across universities throughout the country. So much took place on campuses: “Gaza Solidarity Encampments,” police sweeps, student arrests, ideological clashes between students and administrations, canceled commencements, instances of antisemitism and islamophobia, and more. With information coming from all sides, it’s hard to even know where to begin. But as the school year comes to a close, we’re diving into the protests that held the country’s attention last month.
In the Jewish world, this past month has been rife with controversy: some Jewish students were part of the encampments – hosting Shabbats and Pesach seders on lawns, while other students joined counter-protests, and some left campus altogether due to feeling unsafe.
Simultaneously, the rest of the Jewish world was watching and analyzing campus life with similar divides: some expressing solidarity, some feeling fear, and some a mix of both.
As large media outlets have covered the encampments, there’s been a lot of talk about college students. But as a magazine by and for Jewish students, we know that the best way to understand these events is to listen to students themselves. In this historical moment, student newspapers have stepped up to the occasion with incredible courage. Student journalists worked tirelessly to report weekly, daily, and hourly on the events unfolding. So we combed through student papers across the country to bring you 10 articles that tell stories from the ground – through student testimonies, digital archives, live reports, and photography.
So whether you want to learn about protests at other colleges, or reflect on your own experiences, through these articles by and for students, we hope you learn something new.
– New Voices Editorial Team
Student paper: Columbia Spectator, Columbia University
“The staff of the Columbia Daily Spectator, the nearly 150-year-old undergraduate newspaper, has been covering every minute of this story. Recently, New York Magazine asked us to create this report, leveraging our intimate knowledge of the university and its people to tell the story from the inside. Our reporters, writers, editors, and photographers polled more than 700 Columbians to better understand what happened, took more than 100 portraits of members of the community, and compiled this oral history of the two weeks that forever changed our university.”
We would be remiss not to begin this list with reporting from the Columbia Spectator, which has been widely recognized for their coverage of this spring’s protests and related events. The campus encampments began at Columbia University, before spreading across the country. In this extensive report, Spec journalists collect all kinds of student voices to create a riveting oral history. This collaboration with New York Magazine takes us, chronologically, through the first and second encampments, police sweeps and arrests, clashes with the President of Columbia, and various Jewish student responses and experiences. Photographs capture the most pressing moments of these events, with background from Spec photographers (including New Voices writer, Judy Goldstein). To understand the events that unfolded at Columbia, read this piece.
2. “Live Updates: Students hold encampment for divestment on Andrew Harris Commons”
Student paper: The Vermont Cynic, University of Vermont
“This is a live updates page. As events continue to develop, reporters from the Cynic will update this article with encampment and related coverage here.”
For the past few weeks, student reporters at The Vermont Cynic have been updating this page with daily – and sometimes even hourly – coverage of what’s happening with encampments and protests on campus. Check out this page for continuous updates and on the ground reporting.
3. “More than 100 NYPD officers outside Paulson as hundreds protest encampment sweep”
Student paper: Washington Square News, NYU
“Police arrested a demonstrator wearing what appeared to be an NYU sweatshirt outside of The New School’s encampment. The protester was taken into a New York City Police Department van as demonstrators chanted “let her go, let her go.” Legal observers on the scene said the protester was carrying an NYU ID. Demonstrators are marching into Washington Square Park, with five officers leading the group on motorcycles, where a service for Shabbat is also taking place.”
It’s impossible to talk about student protests without talking about the police, which have been called in by multiple universities. Police have arrested nearly 2,600 students since April in association with campus protests. After the NYPD conducted a sweep of the encampment at NYU, hundreds came out to protest, and some attended a Shabbat service. Washington Square News shares live updates of this clash with the NYPD.
4. “After days of unrest, Jewish students express varied feelings about pro-Palestine campus protests”
Student paper: Yale Daily News, Yale
“Berman specifically noted that while she has felt physically safe, she also feels emotionally ‘unsafe, unwelcome and fearful.’ Berman emphasized that the protests have ‘absolutely felt anti-Jewish.’
Berman added that many of her Jewish friends who weren’t planning to go home for Passover decided to leave ‘because they don’t feel comfortable on our campus right now.’”
When we talk about “Jewish students” on campus right now, what are we referring to? It’s impossible to put Jewish students in a box – far from monolithic, there is a vast diversity of opinion and action amongst college-age Jews. This article from the Yale Daily News explores these “varied feelings,” speaking to Jews who lead protests and are vocal members of Yale Jews for Ceasefire, and others who have opted to leave campus due to antisemitism and feeling uncomfortable on campus. The article also explores instances of antisemitism and how students have dealt with them.
5. “‘I thought I was going to die’: UCLA encampment protesters recall April 30 attack”
Student paper: The Daily Bruin, UCLA
“At first, I could understand why there weren’t police officers immediately,” said Student A, who was in the encampment. “But an hour in, and then two hours in, and then three hours in, it just reached the point where I was like, ‘UCLA knows this is happening, and they don’t care enough to protect their students.’”
As campus protests have proliferated over the past few weeks, so have counter-protests – attended by students and non-students alike. One such counter-protest at UCLA made headlines when counter-protesters attacked the encampments. The Daily Bruin collected testimonies from students, and reported on this event and its aftermath, as well as how it was handled by the university.
6. “Bonds to bombs: A quaint community college’s global impact”
Student Paper: The Courier, Pasadena City College
“The PCC Foundation, a non-profit that raises funds for Pasadena City College (PCC), holds investments in several major polluters and weapons manufacturers including ExxonMobil and RTX Corp (formerly Raytheon), a Courier analysis of the foundation’s financial disclosures found. The findings come at a time when students across the nation, including PCC, are urging their institutions to divest from companies implicated in climate degradation and Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip.”
With this being The Courier’s most-viewed story of the year, it’s safe to say that people want to understand where colleges’ investments are going. The article delves into the finances of the PCC Foundation, which raises funds for Pasadena City College – and just where those finances are going. Bigger picture, student journalists explore various movements for divestment, their histories, and the controversies surrounding them. It also reports on the BDS movement and students’ demands of divestment at various colleges. Reported by New Voices community member, Akiva Colin Haskins.
7. “In photos: Before, during and after the ‘Triangle Gaza Solidarity Encampment’”
Student paper: The Daily Tar Heel, UNC Chapel Hill
“At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 30, UNC administrators warned the group to remove the tents by 6 a.m. or face possible suspension, expulsion or arrest. When they did not comply, thirty individuals were detained and six were arrested. All were later released. Police and UNC Facilities workers cleared Polk Place and put up metal barriers surrounding the grass.”
In the case of this spring’s campus protests, pictures really are worth a thousand words. A team of student photojournalists at UNC covered their campus encampment, a police sweep, and student arrests. This gallery shares 20+ photos of the “before, during, and after,” communicating more than words possibly could.
8. “Faculty, students deliver letters condemning Tulane’s response to pro-Palestinian encampment”
School paper: Tulane Hullabaloo, Hullabaloo
“A group of 11 professors arrived at Gibson Hall Friday morning to deliver an open letter signed by 250 faculty members that condemned the university’s response to a pro-Palestinian encampment and demanded it drop suspensions against seven students involved.”
Across the country, university administrations have shared statements and responses to what’s happening in Israel and Palestine. But many faculty and students feel that these responses don’t reflect their opinions – so they respond. The Hullabaloo shares how this is taking place at Tulane, including an open letter from students that demands Tulane drops protestors’ suspensions.
9. “A Brief History of Occupying Buildings and Camping on the Quad at UChicago”
School paper: The Maroon, UChicago
“The Maroon’s deep dive into digital archives presents a lineage of civil disobedience and radical action by students against the administration over collegiate, local, and international issues.”
Beginning at Columbia, student protestors have cited inspiration from activism and civil disobedience that took place at universities throughout their history. The Maroon takes a deep dive into their digital archives to uncover these stories and how they connect to today.
10. “Brown University encampment ends, Corp to vote on divestment from Israel in Oct”
Student paper: Brown Daily Herald, Brown
“At this meeting, thirty-one members of BUCC voted to approve two motions in line with protesters’ demands: allowing students to present a divestment proposal to the Corporation and dropping the charges for the 41 students. Both motions passed with 17 “yes” votes, but the second garnered fewer “no” votes and more abstentions.”
Brown University’s highest governing body came to an agreement with student protestors, stating that they would vote on divestment from companies affiliated with Israel, in accordance with protestors’ demands. Because of this, they agreed to end the encampment at Brown, though charges against 41 students were not yet dropped.
We recognize that this list is far from complete; we’re sure we’ve missed some excellent pieces. If there is a student newspaper or article that stood out to you or that we missed, please send the information to editor@newvoices.org.
