Nearly a dozen New York University (NYU) students have received year-long suspensions for protesting and demanding divestment from Israel, signaling a shift in university policy as Donald Trump retakes the presidency. The suspensions have sparked debate about free speech, protest rights, and the enforcement of university regulations.
Cornell Law Professor William Jacobson commented on the situation, emphasizing the importance of consistent rule enforcement on campuses. "The issue isn't about cracking down on specific students," Jacobson told Fox News Digital, "it's about applying the rules fairly to everyone. Anti-Israel protestors often resist complying with existing rules, whether it's disrupting libraries or obstructing pedestrian traffic. Then, when these common rules are enforced, they claim victimhood."
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump with his son, Barron. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
Students and faculty members march at NYU. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
NYU's Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP) defended the suspended students, claiming their protests were nonviolent and focused on anti-war advocacy. The FJP stated on Instagram that the students were suspended for distributing flyers, hanging banners, and conducting a sit-in at the Bobst Library on December 11th and 12th, 2024. Their objective was to secure a meeting with administrators regarding NYU's investments in Israel.
Anti-Israel demonstration outside NYU’s Stern School of Business. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
NYU spokesperson John Beckman disputed the FJP's characterization of the protests as peaceful, telling Fox News Digital that the library disruptions occurred just before final exams and included threats against university officials. He emphasized that the disciplinary actions were a result of the disruptive behavior, not the students' viewpoints, and stated that NYU takes violations of its rules seriously.
Another view of the demonstration outside NYU’s Stern School of Business. (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)
William A. Jacobson, Cornell Law School. (Fox News Digital)
Jacobson expressed his belief that the returning Trump administration will pressure universities to enforce regulations against creating hostile environments for specific groups. He criticized the creation of "Zionist-free zones" and expressed hope that the Department of Education under Trump will address these issues more effectively than the previous administration.
President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The article also discusses ongoing investigations into over 100 colleges and school districts for alleged antisemitism and Islamophobia, and recent settlements reached with several universities under the Biden administration. These settlements have drawn criticism for being insufficiently stringent. Trump has been critical of universities for allowing antisemitic protests and has indicated his intention to take strong action against them, including potential deportations of student protestors on visas.
Police and demonstrators clash on the UCLA campus. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Joe and Jill Biden greet Donald and Melania Trump. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
