A University's Responsibility

Key Findings:

This essay explores the evolving nature of student activism in American universities, especially in the wake of the pro-Palestine student protests following the October 7 Hamas attacks. 

Activism has a long and honorable history in the U.S.—from the founding fathers and suffragists to civil rights leaders and religious dissenters like Roger Williams, who championed freedom of conscience and respectful dissent. This historical legacy underscores the importance of preserving activism on college campuses, even when it becomes controversial.

However, the public perception of activism has shifted in recent years. Increasingly, it is associated with aggressive and dehumanizing behavior, particularly on campuses where protests have created hostile environments for Jewish students.

The solution is not to suppress activism, but to treat it as part of the educational mission of universities. Students should be taught how to engage in activism constructively and strategically, learning from past examples and developing skills such as negotiation, organizing, communication, and leadership.

Three guiding principles for how universities should handle campus activism:

(1) Institutions must broaden students' understanding of activism beyond protests to include more impactful methods like voting, volunteering, political lobbying, legal advocacy, and policy work. These tools are often more effective in creating lasting social change and are essential for students to learn as part of their development into engaged citizens; 

(2) Universities should promote a campus culture that upholds both freedom of expression and respectful dialogue. While disagreement and debate are crucial to academic life, activism must not be allowed to silence or dehumanize others, as this undermines learning and community integrity;

(3) Schools must clearly communicate the rules surrounding protests and consistently enforce them. Students should understand their rights and the consequences of their actions, with the goal of ensuring that activism does not interfere with the educational rights of others.

Ultimately, student activism (even when flawed or misdirected) can be a powerful learning experience. Rather than expecting young people to arrive at college fully equipped to change the world, universities should guide them with empathy, structure, and high expectations. The goal is to help students become thoughtful and effective changemakers, while preserving a campus environment rooted in civility, humanity, and the free exchange of ideas—values exemplified by early American activists like Roger Williams.