Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Spread Among US Universities

Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations¹ Spread Among US Universities

Tensions over strong opinions about Israel's war in Gaza are spreading at some universities around the United States.

On Monday, Columbia University in New York City canceled in-person classes. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including occupations, have been taking place on campus for days. Last week, police arrested more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia.

Also on Monday, police in New Haven², Connecticut, arrested about 45 protesters at Yale University. Officials said the students refused orders to leave an area they were occupying.

Columbia and Yale are two of the so-called "Ivy³ League" universities considered among the nation's top schools.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations also are taking place on other campuses around the country, including the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the University of North Carolina.

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Monday that she was "deeply saddened" by what was happening at the school.

I am announcing that all classes will be held virtually on Monday," Shafik said, adding that she hoped the move would ease tensions.

Shafik said the Middle East conflict is terrible and that she understands that many are experiencing deep moral unease.

"But we cannot have one group dictate⁴ terms and attempt to disrupt important milestones⁶ like graduation...," she said.

Over the coming days, a working group of Columbia professors and administrators⁷ will try to find a resolution to the university crisis, Shafik added.

Several students at Columbia and Barnard College said they were suspended for taking part in last week's protests, including Barnard student Isra Hirsi, the daughter of U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of the Democratic Party.

At Yale, police officers arrested about 45 protesters and charged them with misdemeanor trespassing⁸, a New Haven police spokesperson said. All were being released on promises to appear in court later, the official said.

Protesters set up a camp on Friday and demonstrated over the weekend. They demanded that Yale end its investments in defense¹⁰ companies that do business with Israel.

On Sunday, Yale President Peter Salovey released a statement to the campus community. It said university officials had spoken to the student protesters several times about campus policies and guidelines.

"Putting up structures, defying the directives of university officials, staying in campus spaces past allowed times, and other acts that violate university policies and guidelines" create safety risks and interfere¹¹ with the university's work, the Yale leader said.

School officials said they spoke⁹ with protesters over several hours and gave them until the end of the weekend to leave the area. They said they again warned protesters Monday morning and told them that they could face arrest and punishment, including suspension from school, before police took action.

A large group of demonstrators gathered again after Monday's arrests at Yale and blocked a street on campus, the police said. There were no reports of violence or injuries.

Last week, the University of Southern California took the unusual step of canceling a planned commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian. The student had publicly supported Palestinians in the past. The university said it canceled the speech over security concerns. Supporters of free speech criticized USC's decision. Some pro-Israel groups praised it.

Words in This Story

campus – n. the grounds of an organization related to education or research

virtually – adv. taking place through video or online, not involving a physical meeting or interaction

disrupt – v. to interfere with normal activities to prevent them from taking place

milestone⁵ – n. an important event that marks the end of one period in a person's life and the beginning of another

graduation – n. a ceremony marking the completion of all classes required for a high school or university degree

misdemeanor –n. a minor¹² offense¹³ under criminal law that is not punishable with a large fine or long prison sentence

trespassing –n. the crime of being in a place where you are not permitted by law to be

defy – v. to refuse to obey a law, its representative or a person representing authority

allow – v. to permit something to happen

commencement – n. the ceremony at which a degree is given at a school or college

valedictorian – n. a student, usually among the class leaders, who gives the ceremonial farewell speech to a graduating class

1 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

4 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

5 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

6 milestones   

n.重要事件( milestone的名词复数 )；重要阶段；转折点；里程碑

参考例句：

• Several important milestones in foreign policy have been passed by this Congress and they can be chalked up as major accomplishments. 这次代表大会通过了对外政策中几起划时代的事件，并且它们可作为主要成就记录下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dale: I really envy your milestones over the last few years, Don. 我真的很羡慕你在过去几年中所建立的丰功伟绩。 来自互联网

7 administrators   

n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师

参考例句：

• He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员，但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
• Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城

8 trespassing   

[法]非法入侵

参考例句：

• He told me I was trespassing on private land. 他说我在擅闯私人土地。
• Don't come trespassing on my land again. 别再闯入我的地界了。

9 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

10 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

11 interfere   

v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

参考例句：

• If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。
• When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

12 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

13 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。