Harvard and MIT threatened to suspend students who do not abandon protests against the war in Gaza

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Harvard and MIT threaten to evict pro-Palestinian students camping on campus

The prestigious universities of Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have issued warnings to pro-Palestinian students camping on their campuses, threatening evictions and suspensions.

The protests, which initially started three weeks ago at Columbia University in New York, have now spread across the country and are affecting graduation ceremonies at various universities.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth issued an ultimatum to students protesting on campus, ordering them to break camp before 2:30 p.m. local time. Failure to comply with the order could result in an immediate temporary academic suspension, preventing students from attending classes, taking exams, or participating in graduation ceremonies.

Similarly, Harvard’s interim president, Alan Garber, warned students that those who continue the protest could face expulsion from their faculties. They will not be able to take exams or live on campus until further notice.

In contrast to the warnings issued by Harvard and MIT, the Police intervened at the University of California in San Diego, arresting 64 people from the camp. At the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), at least 45 people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit home invasion, leading to the suspension of all in-person classes.

The protests, which have led to over 2,700 student detentions across the country, are rooted in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza, the support of the Biden administration for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, and the investments of universities in the Israeli arms industry.

As tensions escalate, more universities are facing disruptions to their end-of-year events, with Columbia University suspending its grand graduation ceremony and opting for smaller individual events to honor students.

The White House expressed regret over the disruptions caused by the protests, with spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre calling it unfortunate that a small group of individuals had affected their classmates’ important events.

President Biden has faced criticism for labeling the protests as violent and anti-Semitic, despite them being primarily peaceful demonstrations. The situation continues to evolve as universities grapple with the impact of the protests on their campuses.

(With information from EFE)