Colleges Restrict Campus Access on Oct. 7 Anniversary

Two years ago today, Hamas attacked Israeli civilians, igniting a bloody war in the Gaza Strip and sparking waves of divisive and disruptive student protests on U.S. college campuses. Some institutions are making efforts to avoid unrest around the anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

Columbia University has been bracing for upheaval for weeks; the university notified students they must submit plans for protests or demonstrations between Oct. 6 and 8 at least two business days in advance, because the dates were identified as “periods of increased campus activities or when there is heightened risk of disruption to university functions.” On Monday, Columbia administrators suspended same-day and alumni guest passes to campus until Wednesday, citing increased activity on campus and safety concerns.

The University of Maryland, similarly, has restricted campus access to students and faculty with campus ID cards, according to an Instagram post from the UMD Students for Justice in Palestine. Last year, UMD tried to cancel SJP’s anniversary event, which resulted in a lawsuit and settlement with the university. SJP plans to host a week of events in solidarity for the Palestinian people of Gaza, including a teach-in and sit-in event today.

New York University’s law school blocked a student-coordinated event planned for Oct. 7 to host conservative scholar Ilya Shapiro, a decision it later reversed. The initial denial, administrators said, was due to a lack of space and security concerns related to “increased likelihood of demonstrations and protests” connected to the Oct. 7 anniversary.

Demonstrations are planned at several other colleges and universities around the country, including Kent State University, the City University of New York and the University of San Francisco.