- By Bernd Debusmann Jr.
- BBC News, Washington
The next chapter of campus protests could soon begin, with universities across the United States bracing for possible disruptions during graduation ceremonies.
Four universities rocked by pro-Palestinian protests will hold graduations this weekend.
Many others, including Columbia University, have scheduled ceremonies throughout the month and into June.
Universities are working to increase security as protesters consider walkouts and other possible actions.
Protesters set up camps and held campus demonstrations to call on their universities to cut ties with Israel over the war in Gaza.
Many colleges responded by calling the police, leading to thousands of arrests.
Protests have taken place at nearly 140 institutions across 45 states and Washington DC since protests began at Columbia University last month, according to a BBC tally.
So far, student protesters have remained mostly silent about plans to disrupt graduations, known as commencements in the United States.
At Indiana University, however, IU Divest and the Palestine Solidarity Committee — whose camp at Indiana University has been cleared by police twice in recent weeks — called for a walkout during graduation ceremonies.
“Make your pro-Palestinian stance clear in the ‘liberated zone,’” the Instagram post read, referring to a protest zone on the university’s campus in Bloomington. “Join us wearing your keffiyeh with your cap and gown.”
The walkout will take place when Pamela Whitten, the university’s president, begins speaking.
Ms. Whitten faced a vote of no confidence in early April from faculty members concerned about academic freedom after the cancellation of a Palestinian artist’s exhibition and the suspension of a faculty member who had sponsored a group of pro-Palestinian students.
Faculty members also considered staging “a silent protest” outside of the commencement ceremony to express their displeasure without interfering with the event, according to two sources who asked to remain anonymous.
The University of Michigan, Ohio State University and the University of Connecticut – all of which have experienced protests in the past two weeks – are holding graduations on May 4-5.
University of Michigan officials announced plans for designated protest zones, where banners and flags will be banned and demonstrators will be subject to security screenings.
Commencement will be monitored by volunteers who will “respond to disruptions, starting with warnings,” according to the university’s website.
Alifa Chowdhury, of the Tahrir Coalition protest group, declined to say whether disruptions were planned. She said the university had “completely ignored” offers to negotiate.
“It makes sense that they implement strategies and train staff to make sure there are no protests,” she said.
Nearly 200 miles to the south, Ohio State University President Ted Carter has pledged to protect students’ rights to free speech while enforcing rules that prohibit “intentional disruption of events, courses, exams or university programs, including the start of the school year. “.
Heba Latif, a Palestinian-American student and co-president of the school’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter, would not say whether protests were planned for the May 5 commencement ceremony. .
Graduation is scheduled for May 15 in Columbia. Police entered campus earlier this week to clear a student occupation and are expected to remain on campus throughout the start of the school year.
Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian international student at Columbia, told the BBC that the protest movement would continue regardless.
“Students have been protesting since October,” Mr. Khalil said.
“They received disciplinary notices from the university, suspensions, probation, and that stopped no one.
“I don’t see how police intervention could stop this movement.”
Protesters in Columbia did not respond when asked repeatedly whether disruptions were planned.
