Recent unrest at universities in the United States has reached a boiling point with starkly contrasting police responses in Texas and New York.

Pro-Palestine advocates were arrested at the University of Texas, while counterparts at Columbia University faced a different scenario.

According to Daily Mail, police arrested 79 individuals at the University of Texas on Monday after they attempted to set up an encampment on the South Lawn. The arrests were confirmed by Travis County Jail the following day. Charged mainly with criminal trespassing, one individual faces accusations of interfering with public duties.

A show of force in Austin contrasts with NYC

Officers geared in riot equipment forcibly removed around 100 protesters who were strategically sitting to prevent dispersion. University officials later acknowledged that many involved were not affiliated with the institution and stressed that campus policies explicitly banned such encampments.

Additionally, there were reports of some demonstrators becoming confrontationally physical and verbally abusive toward university personnel. This necessitated a stronger police presence to ensure campus safety and order.

Meanwhile, the scenario took a different turn across the country at Columbia University. Protesters managed to overtake Hamilton Hall, barricading themselves inside using campus furniture and aiming to obstruct surveillance by covering security cameras. University spokesperson Ben Chang detailed the limited access, restricting campus entry only to residential students and necessary staff.

Ben Chang stated:

Early this morning, a group of protestors occupied Hamilton Hall on Columbia University's Morningside campus. Access to campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings.

Protesters at Columbia are pressing for several demands, among them university divestment and greater transparency concerning financial dealings. They also seek amnesty for students facing discipline over protest activities.

Amidst the chaos, demonstrators displayed Palestinian flags and banners, one reading "Gaza Calls Columbia Falls," to communicate their solidarity with Gaza.

Demonstrators make international connections

Hundreds of demonstrators adorned in Palestinian keffiyehs participated, showing widespread support for Gaza within the U.S. student community. This forms part of a broader wave of Gaza-related protests at American universities.

Despite rising tensions, university leadership at Columbia engaged in prolonged discussions intended to convince protesters to dismantle their encampments. University President Nemat Minouche Shafik revealed the fruitlessness of these negotiations:

Days of negotiations between student organizers and academic leaders had failed to persuade demonstrators to remove the dozens of tents set up to express opposition to Israel's war in Gaza.

In Austin, the more aggressive approach has stirred robust debate about the right to protest on campus and the role of law enforcement in managing civil disobedience.

Conclusion

The contrasting responses by law enforcement to university protests in Austin and New York highlight differing strategies for campus activism linked to international conflicts. In Texas, strict enforcement led to multiple arrests and allegations of excessive force, while in New York. However, protesters similarly disrupted campus operations. The approach was more permissive, focusing on containment without arrests. This dichotomy raises questions about consistency and the principles guiding university and police responses to student-led demonstrations nationwide.