US universities tighten security to curb pro-Palestine protests ahead of start of fall semester

By Sercan Irkin and Ecem Sahinli

ISTANBUL (AA) – Following pro-Palestinian protests that spread from US universities this spring to campuses worldwide, US schools are tightening security ahead of the start of fall classes, including a ban on protest camps, but these measures are already under fire as violating freedom of speech.

Thousands of students across the country protested their universities' financial support for companies that support Israel's deadly occupation of Gaza, camping out on campuses despite police intervention. These demonstrations, which lasted from around April until graduation in June, prompted university administrators to address concerns about future protests.

New York’s Columbia University, where the pro-Gaza protests got their initial spark, has fenced off the lawns where student camps were previously established.

In a July email to students, the administration announced plans to introduce a color-coded campus system, restricting access to campus activities. In addition, the university is reportedly considering bringing in peace officers with arrest powers to bolster its existing security force of 290 personnel.

New measures at the University of Virginia include banning outdoor events between the overnight hours of 2 to 6 a.m.

The administration has also ruled that no tents may remain on campus for more than 18 hours, and sleeping on campus grounds between midnight and 6 a.m. is now prohibited.

Students wearing masks on campus must provide identification upon request by university officials.

- Professors group blasts measures to quash peaceful protests

The University of Pennsylvania has prohibited camping and nighttime protests, citing student and staff safety.

Demonstrations in university offices, libraries, and museums are also banned. Events must be registered at least 48 hours in advance, and amplified sound is restricted between 5 and 10 p.m. on weekdays.

At Ohio’s Case Western Reserve University, protests exceeding 20 participants or lasting more than two hours now require written permission from the administration.

Demonstrations are only permitted between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., with fireworks, tents, and projection equipment prohibited.

But the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) has condemned such measures, saying they infringe on free speech and discourage students and faculty from participating in peaceful protests.

The group criticized university administrations for imposing these restrictions without consulting faculty members.