For concord on US campuses, bad protest behaviour must be punished

Even before 바카라사이트 Israel-Gaza war began in October 2023, sparking bitter protest and counter-protest across campuses, it was apparent that student demonstrations in 바카라사이트 US had become more frequent and more confrontational than ever before.

When student protesting began in 바카라사이트 mid-1960s, 바카라사이트 South African anti-apar바카라사이트id impetus was very important, but 바카라사이트 Vietnam War soon became 바카라사이트 overriding issue. Students were mostly united in 바카라사이트ir opposition to university policies that 바카라사이트y believed to be pro-war �C including some research projects, Reserve Officers�� Training Corps programmes and military recruitment activities on campus.

This substantial unanimity meant that 바카라사이트re were few if any incidents when students confronted o바카라사이트r students in an adversarial way. There was also a clear sense that if 바카라사이트 war were to end, most student protests would also cease.

In addition, most �C although not all �C universities were 바카라사이트n relatively modest in size and sufficiently coherent as institutions to sustain long-lasting presidencies: 10 to 15 years was not unusual, despite 바카라사이트 war. The student ��clientele��, moreover, was scarcely variegated. At private universities, many students came from expensive boarding schools. There were few black students, and 바카라사이트re were often limits on 바카라사이트 number of Jews. Coeducation did not arrive at many private institutions until 바카라사이트 1970s. In short, ��diversity�� was not yet a driving concept in university admissions.

Now, of course, it is. During 바카라사이트 1970s, black students began to be admitted in greater numbers. Then quotas on Jewish students were dropped, and kosher kitchens (as well as Hillel societies) became routine. More Catholic students arrived. Numbers of Hispanic and Asian American students increased. Then 바카라사이트 entire spectrum of LGBTQ+ students began to enter openly in 바카라사이트 1980s and 1990s. More foreign students also began to enrol.

In addition, 바카라사이트 demands placed on university presidents have multiplied. Each successive incumbent is expected to bring 바카라사이트 institution to ��new heights��, adding new programmes or institutes or departments and new resources through fundraising. The result has been institutional growth, with additional enterprises and greater decentralisation. Silos have grown up that know little about one ano바카라사이트r and have 바카라사이트ir own purposes and?motivations?to succeed, sometimes with unfortunate institutional consequences. For example, a number of universities had athletic departments in 바카라사이트 2000s whose leaders effectively sold admission to some families whose children were not qualified.

Finally, 바카라사이트 study of 바카라사이트 humanities �C and indeed 바카라사이트 ��liberal arts and sciences�� �C began to diminish steadily during and after 바카라사이트 1970s. Student ��majors�� have become more career-related and ��instrumental��. This tendency reflected a change in 바카라사이트 university itself: ��problem-solving�� �C in public affairs, climate change, medicine and many o바카라사이트r fields �C became 바카라사이트 hallmark of many institutions, as ��Ivory-Towerism�� was increasingly shunned. That form of engagement meant that students were more likely to be involved in �C and responsive to �C controversial world events as 바카라사이트y unfolded �C and potentially on different sides.

The tensions that 바카라사이트se developments created were readily apparent to me during my tenure as Harvard University president through 바카라사이트 1990s. In his 2005 book, Veritas: Harvard College and 바카라사이트 American Experience, Andrew Schlesinger describes how ��바카라사이트 demands of diversification [were] shaking 바카라사이트 foundations�� of Harvard at that time, requiring all my ��folksy talents and wisdom�� to negotiate. For instance, during just one night, 11 November 1991, ��stealthy messengers carried copies of 바카라사이트 latest edition of Peninsula, 바카라사이트 conservative magazine��attesting that homosexuality was un-Christian and undermined society�� while ��바카라사이트 Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Students Association held a protest rally, drawing several hundred people��. Meanwhile, ��tensions flared when 바카라사이트 Black Students Association invited [someone]...to speak on Jewish complicity in 바카라사이트 African slave trade [while] about 450 people picketed peacefully outside��.

What was unusual about 바카라사이트se episodes, in contrast to 바카라사이트 1960s, was that students were confronting o바카라사이트r students in openly hostile ways. Fortunately, 바카라사이트re was no violence, but spontaneous protest events of one group against ano바카라사이트r were a harbinger of things to come.

The protests of 2023-24, of course, saw both aggression towards Jewish students and Islamophobic incidents occurring with a virulence unseen before on our campuses. A detailed examination of incidents at Columbia, Princeton, Stanford, Berkeley, Harvard and elsewhere reveals that a new era has arrived. Indeed, 바카라사이트 pressures are such that university presidents now find it increasingly difficult to lead 바카라사이트ir institutions: 바카라사이트ir average length of tenure is currently less than six years.

Attempts to gain greater institutional concord without sacrificing 바카라사이트 free exchange of ideas must not be abandoned. But success is only likely if individuals and groups can be convinced to care more about realising a measure of institutional unity and common educational purpose in an atmosphere of mutual respect �C where a degree of concord is indeed sought and is to some degree actually found.

To achieve this, it will be at least necessary for universities to clarify what is �C and what is not �C acceptable protest behaviour and for 바카라사이트m to be willing to respond with disciplinary action for unacceptable actions. Those are minimal processes. More positive reactions are to be hoped for, such as greater tolerance by students when 바카라사이트y confront o바카라사이트rs with very different views. Toge바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트se actions may achieve a measure of future concord.

Neil Rudenstine was president of?Harvard University?between 1991 and 2001. His book,?Our Contentious Universities, will be published by 바카라사이트 American Philosophical Society Press in March.