US Colleges Have Different Outcomes from Protests over Gaza War
2024-05-03
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Police have removed encampments, released tear gas and arrested protesters on college campuses around the United States.
2At Columbia University, New York City police twice came to the school to arrest those who set up camps and occupied a building to protest Israel's war in Gaza.
3Several hundred people have been arrested.
4Some students have been suspended and threatened with expulsion.
5Police are now stationed all day and night on campus.
6Early Thursday, police began to remove a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
7The Reuters news agency reported several loud explosions during the clash.
8Some demonstrators carried shields and umbrellas to block the police officers, shouting, "push them back."
9Others surrendered and were moved with their hands over their heads by police.
10The arrests came one day after violence broke out between pro-Palestinian protesters and those who support Israel.
11Nearly 600 kilometers north, the situation has been very different at the University of California, Berkeley.
12Student demonstrations have taken place so far without arrests or disruption to campus operations.
13The contrast in how protests have developed at the top universities, with long histories of student activism, has been notable.
14The results show how college and law enforcement officials deal with events that can quickly turn into a crisis.
15Several other schools, including Northwestern University in Illinois and Brown University in Rhode Island, have avoided clashes between police and students.
16Education experts say these cases offer lessons in keeping tensions from rising.
17They say it is important for university officials to learn from experience and balance student activism with pressure from donors, outside groups and politicians.
18Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ has permitted students to maintain a protest space on campus on the steps of Sproul Hall since April 22.
19The building is where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a 1967 civil rights speech.
20Dan Mogulof is a spokesman for Berkeley.
21He said the protest space remained in effect Wednesday in the hours after UCLA and Columbia called police.
22"UC Berkeley has long experience with nonviolent political protest," Mogulof said.
23He added that the school was following the University of California system's policy for demonstrations.
24That guidance tells college administrators to avoid police involvement unless it is really necessary.
25Police are to be called when the physical safety of students, faculty and staff is threatened.
26That policy is not normal for most schools.
27Most universities have rules that bar permanent encampments or overnight student activities on campus.
28The University of California (UC) system has seen in the past where police involvement can lead.
29In 2011, during the "Occupy" movement against economic inequality at Berkeley, campus police hit students with sticks.
30Then-Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau later apologized, and the University of California system turned to the policy of restraint, spokesman Mogulof said.
31Pro-Palestinian protesters are demanding that colleges end investments in Israel and in companies doing business with the Israeli army.
32In Illinois, Northwestern University reached a deal with protesters.
33The activists agreed to remove tents and sound systems on campus in return for a new advisory committee on investments.
34Protesters at Brown University in Rhode Island also agreed to take down their encampment in return for a vote by the college on whether to divest from companies tied to Israel's military attacks on Gaza.
35But some deals have failed to end tensions.
36Portland State University in Oregon agreed to suspend donations from aircraft manufacturer Boeing.
37Boeing is the U.S. company that makes attack helicopters used in Gaza.
38But students there have continued their occupation of the library.
39The Associated Press says the campus was closed on Thursday because of police activity.
40I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1Police have removed encampments, released tear gas and arrested protesters on college campuses around the United States. 2At Columbia University, New York City police twice came to the school to arrest those who set up camps and occupied a building to protest Israel's war in Gaza. Several hundred people have been arrested. Some students have been suspended and threatened with expulsion. Police are now stationed all day and night on campus. 3Early Thursday, police began to remove a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 4The Reuters news agency reported several loud explosions during the clash. Some demonstrators carried shields and umbrellas to block the police officers, shouting, "push them back." Others surrendered and were moved with their hands over their heads by police. The arrests came one day after violence broke out between pro-Palestinian protesters and those who support Israel. 5A different result at Berkeley 6Nearly 600 kilometers north, the situation has been very different at the University of California, Berkeley. Student demonstrations have taken place so far without arrests or disruption to campus operations. 7The contrast in how protests have developed at the top universities, with long histories of student activism, has been notable. The results show how college and law enforcement officials deal with events that can quickly turn into a crisis. 8Several other schools, including Northwestern University in Illinois and Brown University in Rhode Island, have avoided clashes between police and students. 9Education experts say these cases offer lessons in keeping tensions from rising. They say it is important for university officials to learn from experience and balance student activism with pressure from donors, outside groups and politicians. 10Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ has permitted students to maintain a protest space on campus on the steps of Sproul Hall since April 22. The building is where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave a 1967 civil rights speech. 11Dan Mogulof is a spokesman for Berkeley. He said the protest space remained in effect Wednesday in the hours after UCLA and Columbia called police. 12"UC Berkeley has long experience with nonviolent political protest," Mogulof said. He added that the school was following the University of California system's policy for demonstrations. 13That guidance tells college administrators to avoid police involvement unless it is really necessary. Police are to be called when the physical safety of students, faculty and staff is threatened. 14That policy is not normal for most schools. Most universities have rules that bar permanent encampments or overnight student activities on campus. 15The University of California (UC) system has seen in the past where police involvement can lead. 16In 2011, during the "Occupy" movement against economic inequality at Berkeley, campus police hit students with sticks. Then-Chancellor Robert J. Birgeneau later apologized, and the University of California system turned to the policy of restraint, spokesman Mogulof said. 17Pro-Palestinian protesters are demanding that colleges end investments in Israel and in companies doing business with the Israeli army. 18In Illinois, Northwestern University reached a deal with protesters. The activists agreed to remove tents and sound systems on campus in return for a new advisory committee on investments. 19Protesters at Brown University in Rhode Island also agreed to take down their encampment in return for a vote by the college on whether to divest from companies tied to Israel's military attacks on Gaza. 20But some deals have failed to end tensions. 21Portland State University in Oregon agreed to suspend donations from aircraft manufacturer Boeing. Boeing is the U.S. company that makes attack helicopters used in Gaza. But students there have continued their occupation of the library. The Associated Press says the campus was closed on Thursday because of police activity. 22I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 23Hai Do adapted this report for VOA Learning English from Associated Press and Reuters sources. 24_______________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26campus -n. the grounds of a school, college or institution 27umbrella -n. folding coverings that block rain and sun 28disruption -n. interference in a normal activity 29contrast -n. a comparison that examines the differences between things 30lesson -n. something that is learned from an event or situation 31faculty -n. the group of educators at a school 32staff -n. employees of an organization usually not including educators at a school or college 33divest -v. to sell or exchange interest in an investment or financial entity 34We want to hear from you. 35Our comment policy is here.