Student protests at U.S. universities: The arrests at Princeton and nationwide responses

Two graduate students, Achinthya Sivalingan and Hassan Sayed, from Princeton University, have been arrested and subsequently barred from the campus due to their involvement in pro-Palestine protests. The protests, demanding the university divest from companies supporting Israel amidst its conflict in Gaza, saw an immediate response from the university authorities. Achinthya Sivalingan, an Indian-origin student originally from Coimbatore, India, and raised in Columbus, and Hassan Sayed, were quickly arrested after setting up protest tents on campus grounds.

This incident comes against the backdrop of the U.S. President Joe Biden’s recent approval of a $16 billion military aid package for Israel, igniting various demonstrations across multiple U.S. universities. Besides Princeton, institutions like Columbia University, the University of Southern California, Emory University, and Brown University have also witnessed similar protests.

Columbia University has become a central point for these demonstrations, where the faculty senate is anticipated to vote on a resolution that could rebuke the actions of its President Minouche Shafik. Shafik recently made headlines by authorizing the New York Police Department to dismantle the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the university grounds. Similarly, Brown University has issued statements regarding the policy violations related to encampments on its premises, warning participants of potential conduct proceedings.

Jennifer Morrill, a spokesperson for Princeton University, confirmed the non-violent nature of the arrests, stating, “No force was used by Public Safety officers when conducting the arrests, which occurred without resistance.” This situation further escalated as a first-year PhD student, only identified as Urvi, reported that the arrested students were also evicted from their housing with minimal notice.

Adding a governmental perspective, Vedant Patel, a spokesperson from the State Department, emphasized the Biden administration’s support for peaceful protests. During a press briefing, Patel reiterated, “We, of course, support the right of anybody to peacefully protest, to demonstrate, to make their voices heard, to express themselves in a peaceful and nonviolent way.”

This unfolding situation at Princeton and other universities across the U.S. reflects a growing tension within academic circles and the broader national conversation about foreign policy and civil rights.

The arrests at Princeton University highlight a critical moment in the ongoing debate over free speech and protest on university campuses. While the administration’s quick response to the protests may aim to maintain order, it raises significant questions about the balance between institutional control and individual rights to protest. The upcoming votes and decisions at institutions like Columbia could set precedents for how universities handle political expressions in the future.