‘We won’t stop’: College students return to changed campuses after a year of protests
A year after starting his classes at what he thought was the perfect college, Emmit DeHart found himself eager to leave.
Transferring from the University of Washington to Yeshiva University, a private orthodox Jewish school in New York City, was a tough choice for DeHart, now 20 and a sophomore. After the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, he described his experience at the Seattle campus as a nightmare.
On his way to classes, he walked past 200 protest tents that felt unwelcoming, alongside graffiti that he deemed hateful. He often heard shouts of “Free Palestine” and “Zionists aren’t welcome.”
“Every day, it felt like I was facing antisemitism,” he expressed.
As American college campuses reopened a year after the October 7 Hamas attacks, many students noticed significant changes. Protests regarding the Gaza war and the responses from college administrations altered the conventional markers of what makes a school “good,” such as reputation and academic excellence. Students are now questioning: Is this environment safe for me? Will my free speech be upheld? Following a year of protests, many Jewish students reported an uptick in antisemitism, prompting college leaders to impose new restrictions on protest actions and free speech that student activists criticized as oppressive censorship; meanwhile, some Jewish students felt that administrators still weren’t doing enough to protect them.
‘Uncomfortable and unsafe’
DeHart is one of many Jewish students nationwide deeply affected by the slaughter of 1,200 Israelis during last year’s attack. In response, as Israel initiated its military action in Gaza, numerous students demonstrated against the rising death toll, which has now surpassed 40,000, along with ongoing American support for Israel’s campaign.
“It was truly uncomfortable and unsafe to walk to class every day,” he said.
As protests intensified the following spring, students like DeHart felt increasingly insecure at what should have been their homes away from home. Jewish students reported experiences of harassment, bullying, and discomfort. According to preliminary data shared on October 6, the Anti-Defamation League recorded at least 1,200 reported antisemitic incidents on campuses in the year since October 7, marking a 500 percent increase compared to the prior year.
When DeHart raised his concerns to college officials, he felt dismissed. “Their role is to protect and support students, and I felt they utterly failed in that duty,” he said.
Now a sophomore studying politics and finance at Yeshiva University in New York, DeHart reflected on his transfer decision, describing it as “challenging” but ultimately “very rewarding.”
He has also lodged a complaint against the University of Washington through the Brandeis Center, a nonprofit organization that addresses issues of harassment and discrimination, alleging that Jewish students faced extreme and ongoing harassment without adequate university response to promote a safer environment.
Victor Balta, a spokesperson for Yeshiva University, told YSL News that officials are actively discussing the situation with the Office of Civil Rights and expect to issue a final report with recommendations regarding antisemitism and Islamophobia on Tuesday.
“We urge any Jewish student experiencing bias or harassment to report it using our university’s bias or student conduct reporting tools,” Balta added. “We take these reports seriously and are dedicated to addressing them.”
DeHart believes that his Jewish faith and his admiration for Israel “should not interfere with my learning experience,” he stated.
‘Don’t want to let them win’
Marie Adele Grosso has passionately engaged in pro-Palestinian activism throughout her life. As a student at Barnard College, which is part of Columbia University, she has been arrested twice while advocating for her cause.
Grosso, 19, from Michigan, was detained during a protest at a tent encampment on Columbia’s campus and again outside Hamilton Hall when student activists occupied the building, leading to a significant NYPD intervention. In April, she and at least 52 fellow Barnard students received interim suspensions and were prohibited from returning to their dorms.
Barnard College is located near Columbia University, a hub for campus protests. This Ivy League institution witnessed notable violence and chaos during student demonstrations last spring, when administrators called law enforcement to intervene in peaceful protests.
At Columbia, over a hundred individuals were taken into custody when NYPD officers dismantled tent encampments. In scenes reminiscent of the Vietnam War protests, police in riot gear charged Hamilton Hall, leading to the arrest of Grosso, as protesters occupied the building. Consequently, the university canceled its graduation ceremony, and President Minouche Shafik stepped down months later.
The crackdown that followed affected Barnard as well, where Grosso feels that new policies on speech are stricter than those at Columbia. Students are now required to scan their IDs to enter campus. A revised protest policy for this semester restricts demonstrations to between 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. in a “Designated Demonstration Area,” and students must request approval to protest 36 hours in advance.
A set of “community expectations” shared by the administration in September prohibits students from placing posters on their dorm room doors, and professors cannot use or distribute materials that aren’t part of the coursework.
While Barnard stated these expectations are not strictly enforced, the announcement was met with significant backlash from students, faculty, and alumni, culminating in a “community in crisis teach-in” last month, as reported by Columbia Spectator.
A junior pursuing dual majors in sociology and human rights, Grosso initially chose Barnard for its activist legacy. However, the current limitations have left her feeling disenchanted.
“To some extent, I thought my university cared about my safety and needs,” Grosso expressed.
“It’s honestly not a safe environment for students right now,” she remarked.
Student protests continue unabated – intensifying significantly compared to previous protests. The group Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which has led various demonstrations, recently recanted its earlier apology issued after a member claimed “Zionists don’t deserve to live” and advocated for “liberation by any means necessary, including armed resistance.”
“Faced with aggressors wielding the most formidable military force globally, after all peaceful options have been exhausted, violence may become the sole viable path,” the organization asserted in a statement on Instagram.
A representative from the college directed YSL News to a statement from Barnard President Laura Rosenbury appearing in the campus newspaper: “We are committed to upholding free speech and academic freedom while ensuring that the College remains a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes student learning and growth.”
Grosso contemplated not returning to campus due to her parents’ concerns about her safety. Ultimately, she chose to return because of her affection for the Barnard community – her peers, alumni, and faculty. She feels that “the community partially represents the institution.”
Determined to complete her studies, she stated, “I refuse to allow them to win. I don’t want them to succeed in discouraging student activists to the point of withdrawing from school.”
‘Fear is my shadow’
Lauren Cayle, 22, often hears people whispering as they walk past her at American University, where she is a senior studying sociology and Jewish studies. Over the past year since Oct. 7, she feels neglected by the school administration.
“They have failed in every aspect,” Cayle stated.
Cayle wears her Jewish and Zionist pride openly, donning a Star of David, a dog tag for hostages, and a yellow ribbon saying “#BringThemHome” as she makes her way to class. However, this open advocacy seems to have placed her in harm’s way.
“Fear follows me wherever I go,” she admitted. “I’m always on high alert.”
On campus, she has been called names such as “white colonizer” and “fascist pig.” Some people accuse her of having “blood on her hands,” she recounted.
Cayle described how last year’s protests frequently disrupted her classes, leading to moments of panic.
“I’m supposed to feel safe here,” she noted, referring to the campus.
Cayle is one among several American University students who filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, alleging that the school has ignored a “widespread and hostile environment” for Jewish students and sometimes subjected “Jewish whistleblowers” to harassment or punitive action.
The complaint mentions that Jewish and Israeli students discovered swastikas and Nazi messages on their dorm doors and in restrooms. It also claims that protesters obstructed Jewish students’ access to campus buildings and tore down flyers of Israeli hostages.
Shortly after the complaint was submitted in January, American University introduced prohibitions on protests in indoor areas and set limits on flyers and posters in public spaces among other new rules.
On Tuesday, the university’s Students for Justice in Palestine organized a march as part of a “week of rage” following the events of Oct. 7. In an Instagram post, they shared updates on their activities.
On Monday, it was reported that university officials warned students about potential conduct violations for using loudspeakers in the campus quad.
Reflecting on her experience, Cayle expressed regret about her choice to attend American University.
“AU has made its stance clear: antisemitism is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” stated Matthew Bennett, the university’s spokesperson.
“This fall, we revised many university policies after receiving significant feedback from the community to better address issues related to harassment and behaviors that may impact students’ feelings of belonging,” he added.
‘We won’t stop’
For one Jewish student, the protests represented the essence of his educational journey.
“My belief in the potential of a university was revitalized last spring during the encampment and over the past year as I protested against the genocide occurring in Gaza,” said Adam Nussbaum, a senior in architecture at Yale and a member of Yale Jews for a Ceasefire, part of the campus Palestinian solidarity movement.
Protests began at Yale about a year ago, featuring singing, prayer circles, teach-ins, and town hall meetings, according to Nussbaum.
Last spring, tensions escalated as protestors engaged in a hunger strike, confronted university officials at Yale’s Beinecke Plaza, and blocked a street for hours, resulting in over 40 student arrests.
Nussbaum, identifying as a Jewish student, views the protests as aligned with a “tradition of antiwar activism within Judaism,” rather than antisemitic.
“It is evident to me that criticizing power and state violence is the opposite of antisemitism,” he asserted.
This academic year, Yale introduced new policies limiting activities such as putting up posters, projecting images, and camping on campus.
“Believing that repression, policing, and surveillance can resolve this issue is a major miscalculation,” said Nussbaum.
Yale affirmed its commitment to “free expression” on campus, allowing for peaceful discussions, vigils, rallies, and protests that comply with university regulations regarding time, place, and manner.
Nussbaum emphasized that student protestors will continue their efforts, stating, “We won’t stop until Yale divests.”
