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Virtual Tour

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Boston University Virtual Tour

Are you considering boston u take a virtual tour of the campus below..

A visit to Boston University is ideal, but virtual tours can act to refresh your memory or as a preview for your on-site tour.

Why a Virtual Tour?

Inevitably, on-campus tours of classrooms, libraries, dorms, and dining halls will start to blend. Jog your memory using the virtual tour and even explore the area surrounding the campus using the interactive mapping tool. If you're just beginning your college search, a virtual tour can be a great way to get a feel for a campus before your visit. Remember, when you do go, be sure to ask current students about their college life. A student perspective can be the most helpful way to gauge your future experience at Boston U.

Use the resources below to start your virtual tour.

Using the Map

Click and drag the little orange person to a location on the map. Locations with panoramas appear as blue lines or blue dots when moving the orange person. The blue dots are panoramic views that you may swivel. The blue lines are paths that you can navigate along.

Panoramic View

You can "pan" or "swivel" the camera around by clicking on the image and dragging your mouse or finger. If you see a white arrow on the picture, you can click or tap on it to move in the direction of the arrow. This will also update the location of the little orange person on the map so you can get a better sense of where you are and what direction you are facing.

Continue Your Research on Boston U

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Guide To A Harvard University Tour In Boston

I don’t see my role as a parent to push my children down certain paths, like going to Harvard University, or any college for that matter, but when I was given a chance to tour Harvard University on our trip to Boston, it was something I couldn’t pass up.

It’s not so much the Ivy League prestige of it all that interested me, but more the history and legacy of this great University, which once nurtured some of the greatest minds on the planet.

Former U.S. Presidents Barrack Obama, John F. Kennedy and Franklin Delano Roosevelt all went to Harvard, as well as technology geniuses Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg.

As a parent, I feel it is my duty to open up doors of possibility for my kids, and help them uncover for themselves which is the right door for them to eventually walk through.

So, I couldn’t pass up the chance to tour of Harvard University just to show them what paths are ahead of them. In this guide, I’ve shared what I learned, what there is to see when visiting Harvard University, and what to expect from the tour.

Is A Harvard University Tour Worth It?

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Harvard University is one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. Of course you have heard of it.

A visit to this university is not just about weighing up the pros and cons of a Harvard college degree and talking with the current students about what you have to do to get in – it’s about learning about its history and legacy.

A chance to learn about the history, famous faces who attended this prestigious institution and to hear about daily life as a student, are all good reasons to visit Harvard University.

Harvard tours can be pre-booked in advance via Get your Guide . They are also on the GO Boston Card, which is worth getting if you intend to visit several attractions in Boston. ( Click here to learn more about the Boston City Pass ).

You can also book a tour directly from The Harvard University Visitor Center, located within the Smith Campus Center.

If you go on a Boston Duck Tour , which we did and is fantastic, you also get free Harvard walking tours on the weekday and 50% off on weekends.

Our Experience Touring Harvard University

On our trip to Boston , I did not want to leave without seeing Harvard for myself and imagining what life as a student in Harvard would be like.

I also wanted the girls to gain an insight into Harvard University Campus life so they could begin to think about their future.

How can I help them see what is possible through that door and path, without me telling them about it?

It’s amazing how much children will learn and gravitate towards things when they hear it, or experience it, from people other than their parents.

If I want my girls to learn something in particular to help them grow into extraordinary young women, I often give them a book about it, or send them to  rock climbing camps, to help them learn it from themselves.

Again, opening the door and letting them walk through it.

We joined a student led walking historical tour of Harvard in the city of Cambridge MA, just outside of Boston, on the last morning of our Dallas to Boston road trip.

The benefit of the 70 minute Harvard University tours are that they are guided by current Harvard students.

Our guide, Tim, graduated with a history concentration (major) just a few days before taking our tour.

When a young boy asked why it was spelt “Hahvahd” on his shirt he switched to a Bostonian accent to show how Bostonian people don’t pronounce their ‘r’s giving a few examples, which sounded exactly like an Australian accent!

No wonder I kept thinking I was hearing a few Aussies in Boston!

Tim was friendly, informative, and clearly loved learning at Harvard. Tim had a very grounded energy and a confident belief about himself and his future.

I got the impression Harvard was largely responsible for this and it made me happy to see the kind of adults it was helping to bring into the world, who will hopefully use that education to make it a better place for all.

Holding people to a higher standard is essential for creating exceptional humans and societies.

That’s what I wanted my girls to see.

Tim had an opportunity to go to Harvard because of football. He was invited to play on the team and took advantage of that opportunity to get an education at one of the best colleges in the world.

An education that has now helped him to pursue a talent and interest in the music recording world in Los Angeles.

It was something he never even knew he wanted to do until his final year.

I loved how my girls heard this story and I hope were able to discover a few clues about each phase of life. It has many twists and turns and new doors to discover.

You don’t have to know all the answers or even which path you want to walk down, but the key is to show up, take adventure of opportunities (or so called luck), work hard, have fun and be passionate, and be a decent person. Y Travel Blog

The world really is your oyster.

Highlights of A Tour Of Harvard Campus

Below are some of the highlights from our Harvard University tour.

We loved learning about the history of Harvard, including the untold stories and lore.

If you’re not familiar with the history of Harvard, allow me to share what I learned. It was founded in 1636, and is the oldest university in the United States.

Its establishment came just 16 years after the arrival of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, signifying its deep roots in American history.

It was originally named Harvard College after its first benefactor, John Harvard, and very quickly solidified itself as THE place of educational advancement and innovative leadership.

Over the centuries, Harvard has expanded from just academic offerings and evolved into a place of research and influence. In 1782, it incorporated medical studies into its programs and is now one of the pioneers in advancements in the field of medicine.

The university’s original, iconic buildings, some of which still stand today, date back to the 18th century, but its impact extends far beyond the confines of its campus.

Harvard has an enduring history of innovation and is a beacon of knowledge, innovation, and prestige. Whether you’re a student or not, it continues to inspire and cultivate the minds of the next generation.

Being lead by a Harvard University student meant we could learn real-life, personal stories and tips about what it’s like to live and study at Harvard.

We learned how difficult it is to be accepted into Harvard and how important it is to show academic commitment and good grades, even if you do have an athletic ability, your grades are equally as important.

While I understand getting accepted into the right university here in the USA creates high pressure and stressful situation for high school students, I do like how it helps young teenagers to think about their future from an early age and make responsible choices to avoid getting into trouble and getting bad grades.

They understand early on there can be a a high price to pay if they goof off and miss out on opportunities as a result and destroy their future.

As college is not such a rite of passage for Australians, I don’t think we have such a consequence connection at such a young age, nor a deep commitment and passion for our future.

More importantly, he shared about the transformative experience of Harvard and how it trains you for life, opens so many future doors of possibilities and helps you walk out as a much better person.

Educated, confident, introspective, and so open to life and opportunities.

I think college life in America would be something the girls would love.

As Tim said, he’s not really doing anything with his degree that concentrated (majored) in history, but, it was an education and training that has helped prepare him for life and whatever career path he will follow.

I can see how valuable it is and just having “Harvard Graduate” attached to your name can bring many opportunities as it’s well recognized as a college that creates exceptional, well rounded, and educated people.

Whether they do or not, they are talking about it and considering it.

Harvardians (a name for anyone who attended Harvard) come from all walks of life.

You don’t have to be super rich or come from a family of alumni to attend. You don’t need to come into good fortune, or have good luck. Any type of learner can study here, as long as you demonstrate the values that Harvard look for.

On our campus tour, we learned all about the most famous people to attend Harvard, from political leaders, innovators, and scientific thinkers, who have all contributed to the ongoing narrative of educational excellence that this school provides.

Notable alumni of Harvard are John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, renowned for his inspirational leadership during a pivotal era in American history, as well as the distinguished Barack Obama, who made history as the first African American President of the United States and continues to be a prominent global figure in politics and advocacy.

In the realm of technology, visionaries such as Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook, whose innovative platform revolutionized social networking, as well as Bill Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, emerged from Harvard.

The university also counts award-winning actors and actresses among its alumni, including Natalie Portman, Matt Damon, Conan O’Brien, and Rashida Jones.

Stops on the Harvard University Tour

So, what do you actually see on a Harvard University tour? Of course, you cannot enter the entire campus, it’s a real-life, working university and people have classes to attend.

However, you do get to visit some notable places that have shaped the history of the university.

Here’s where the Harvard University tour takes you…

Harvard Square was the meeting point for the Harvard University tour. It’s the beating heart of the university and is where more than 8 million people visit each year.

The square is surrounded by bookstores, cafes, restuarants and shops, and you often see street performers and musicians busking in the center.

Visiting the square gives you an idea of the vibrancy of the campus and its surroundings, and it doesn’t stop there.

Sadly for us, we could not visit Harvard Yard due to Graduation ceremonies, which is the main area of Harvard University campus. It’s where the freshman students live and where they take their classes.

It’s the place where you’ll find the statue of John Harvard, the founder of Harvard College. The statue, designed by Daniel Chester French, is said to bring you good luck if you rub the boot of John Harvard.

It’s also where the infamous Midnight scream takes place.

If you haven’t heard of this tradition, it’s when students naked streak around the Yard on the night before their finals to help them let off steam!!

Tim did an excellent job of helping us overcome this disappointment by painting a great picture of life inside the Yard and taking us to as many places as he could around Harvard.

Inside Harvard Yard, you will find:

• Harvard Hall, a classroom building that was the first hall of Harvard. The original building caught fire in 1764, and more than 4,500 books from the college library were destroyed. It was rebuilt 2 years later and housed a larger library.
• Massachusetts Hall  is the oldest surviving building on the campus. It was built in 1718-1720 and was originally a dormitory and to this day still houses Freshman on the fourth floor. During the siege of Boston, one of the most notable historical events in USA history, it was ransacked by soldiers and many of its original fixtures and fittings were removed, but the main architectural structure remains untouched.
• University Hall , which is notable for its white-brick facade, once contained the Cambridge Commons (a dining room), a library, a chapel and classrooms, but today houses administrative offices and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. You will find the statue of John Harvard outside its Western side.
• Sever Hall , built between 1878 – 1880 by Anne Sever in honor of her husband, James Warren Sever. It’ features’s used as a general purpose classroom building and contains classrooms, lecture halls, offices for professors and other rooms where attendees can do their scholarly work.
• Harvard Science Center is a more modern building, built in 1972, and contains the main classrooms and laboratories for undergrads in science and mathematics.
• The Memorial Church of Harvard University is a Protestant church, affectionately known as “MemChurch” and has stood in Harvard Yard for over 400 years.

Located on the banks of the Charles River is The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, or Widener Library for short.

It houses around 3.5 million books containing research collections in humanities and social sciences, and is the beating heart of the Harvard College Libraries.

It was named after Harvard College graduate and Harry Elkins Widener, whose mother commissioned the building after he died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

The Sanders Theatre, also known as Memorial Hall, is famous for its English design and acoustics. It has 1,000 seats and was built as a major lecture hall.

Today, it hosts undergraduate lectures, the prestigious Charles Eliot Norton Lectures, and thePhi Beta Kappa induction ceremony which takes place every year.

Some notable figures who have lectured here are Theodore Roosevelt and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Occasionally, it has musical events too.

On the campus of the university is the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

It contains artifacts, objects and images from communities around the world and aims to educate on global diversity.

The Harvard Museum of Natural History contains collections and historical snippets from the research of scientists across the University, focusing on the natural world and the human place in it.

We didn’t go in the museum, but it’s considered one of the top attractions on the campus of Harvard University.

The Harvard Art Museums are made up of three separate museums; the Fogg Museum, Busch-Reisinger Museum, and Arthur M. Sackler Museum.

The Fogg Museum is both an art museum and teaching facility for art scholars. The museum contains a large collection of plaster casts, photographs, Western paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, prints, and drawings from the Middle Ages to today.

The Busch-Reisinger Museum is a Germanic Museum, dedicated to the study of all modes and periods of art from German-speaking countries in Europe.

The Arthur M. Sackler Museum contains Harvard’s collections of Asian, ancient, and Islamic and later Indian art.

Of course, a tour would not be complete without passing by the Gift Shop. Here you can buy all your nick-nacks, trinkets and souvenirs to take home with you, from baseball caps to jumpers!

Final Thoughts

Giving my daughters a chance to learn is one of the reasons why I love to travel with them, and why I continue to do so despite it being so hard.

I often think of quitting and putting them back into school – so badly do I need a break and some sort of separation and individuality.

But then we get these results from the standardized homeschooling tests , and then I think about the box I’d be putting them back into and how much they’d loose from not traveling and experiencing these many different doors of possibility.

Travel shows them all the different paths that are available to them. You only know what you know, right? Travel helps them to uncover who they truly are.

At the end of our Harvard campus tour, the girls had a gleam in their eye as they spoke about Harvard and college and Harvard University tuition costs.

I could see they recognized the possibility and saw themselves in it.

Harvard was an experience that excited them. I was so grateful to Tim our guide for painting a picture of what Harvard was like as a student.

I think Kalyra loved how Hogwarts-like it sounded. Savannah flat out said, “I want to go to Harvard. Can you get me in?” (update: Six years later, Harvard is still on her college list. But she’s also since been to Oxford, UK and NYU in New York and have both of them on her list as well!)

Well, Harvard offers no scholarships, so we better come up with a really good investment savings plan!!

• Buy your Harvard “Hahvahad” walking tours here .
• Get your Boston Go Card here
• Boston Duck Tours (also included on the Premium Boston Go Card
• Find your Boston accommodation here . (We stayed at this lovely modern apartment in South Boston, which we booked through Booking.com)
• Things to do in Boston with kids
• The informative Boston Freedom Trail walking tour
• A 3 day trip to Martha’s Vineyard
• What to do in Boston from a local’s perspective
• Attending a Red Sox Game at Fenway
• Dallas to Boston road trip
• A Revolutionary War road trip idea

Suggestions or feedback?

Whether you’re a prospective student or just visiting the Boston area, we invite you to explore our dynamic campus and experience firsthand how MIT is making a better world .

MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from Boston, in the vibrant innovation district of Kendall Square . Founded in 1865, MIT established a new kind of independent educational institution relevant to an increasingly industrialized America. Since then, the Institute has built a robust tradition of solving problems in the public interest at the intersection of technology and humanity.

Welcome Center

The MIT Welcome Center is open at 292 Main Street in Kendall Square , conveniently located next to the Kendall/MIT MBTA subway station. Stop by to get guidance about visiting MIT and pick up a campus map  (and to use the restroom, fill your water bottle, or access free Wi-Fi and power outlets). The adjacent green space is also a great place to have lunch or take a break. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding MIT holidays  and Institute closures. 

The MIT Welcome Center is a gift of Tina and Hamid (SB 1977, SM 1978) Moghadam.

Campus Tours & Information Sessions

The Undergraduate Admissions office hosts virtual and in-person information sessions for prospective students. Visit mitadmissions.org/visit to register. Please note: We are unable to accommodate walk-in guests for information sessions, so please make sure to register in advance.

Prospective graduate students usually arrange visits through individual departments, though the  MIT Sloan School of Management  and select departments within the School of Engineering offer tours.

Other resources

• School of Engineering audio tour
• List Visual Arts Center tour

Getting Here & Getting Around

A great place to start your visit is at the MIT Welcome Center, located at 292 Main Street, Cambridge . Parking can be tough here! We recommend public transportation or a taxi/rideshare service (such as Uber or Lyft) to campus.

Via public transportation

Boston’s public transportation system is the MBTA , known as “the T.”

Subway : From any terminal at Logan Airport, take the Silver Line bus to South Station. At South Station, change to the Red Line subway to Kendall/MIT (inbound toward Alewife). The ride should take about 30 minutes and is free. 

Bus : The 64, 68, and 85 lines stop near the MIT Welcome Center. The #1 bus  stops on Massachusetts Avenue, about a 15-minute walk from the Welcome Center.

Shuttle : The EZ Ride shuttle runs to and from Boston’s North Station, with stops at Kendall Square and around MIT’s campus (Note: EZRide is not operated by the MBTA; fare is $2 cash per trip).

From Logan Airport

Taxi or rideshare : Taxi fare from the airport is about $35–$40, and a rideshare service can range from about $20–$35. During non-rush hour, the ride will take about 15 minutes; during rush hour, it may take 30 minutes or more.

Subway : From any terminal at Logan Airport, take the Silver Line bus to South Station. At South Station, change to the Red Line subway to Kendall/MIT (inbound toward Alewife). The ride should take about 30 minutes.

• South Station, Boston , is the closest train station. South Station is served by the MBTA Red Line, which connects to MIT at the MIT/Kendall stop.
• Bluebikes is the Boston area’s public bike share program. There are several stations around campus for renting or returning a bike. Visitors may purchase an Adventure Pass , which is valid for 24 hours.

Parking in Cambridge and Boston can be expensive and hard to find. Whenever possible, park where you’re staying and use public transportation or a taxi/rideshare service. If you must drive to the campus, on- and off-street parking is available for a fee, but most public parking is not very close to the center of campus. More parking information is available from Parkopedia .

• Accessibility map
• Campus walking tour

While You’re Here

From art and architecture to history and culture, there is plenty to see and do, both on campus and in the greater Boston area. Explore the MIT Events Calendar to see what's happening on campus. Many events are open to the public.

Visitors are welcome in many campus buildings and our outdoor spaces. See the visitors policy  for details.

On the MIT campus

• Stop by  Killian Court , the leafy oasis where we hold each year’s Commencement, and gaze up at the Great Dome. (At 8,800 square feet, it’s larger than the domes of St. Paul’s in London and the U.S. Capitol Building. And it was the site of some historic hacks.)

Take in the galleries and exhibits at the  MIT Museum —where art, science, and technology intersect—at its new Kendall Square location.

Explore public art on campus , including works by Picasso, Calder, and other major artists.

Visit the List Visual Arts Center , MIT’s contemporary arts museum.

Witness the work being done at the cutting edge of cancer research at the Koch Institute Public Galleries .

See a display of hacks on the Charles M. Vest Student Street in the Stata Center .

Shop at the MIT Coop for MIT-branded apparel and other souvenirs.

Stop by  MIT Recreation for some movement during your visit. Guest passes are available.

Around Cambridge and Boston

Trace the footsteps of Boston’s founders and revolutionaries on the Freedom Trail .

Quack your way through a duck tour .

Take a short scenic cruise to the Boston Harbor Islands . 

Tour  Fenway Park , home of the Boston Red Sox.

Learn about the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy at his namesake library.

Experience the exceptional collection of one of the oldest art institutions in the nation, Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts , or get some hands-on learning at the Museum of Science .

Climb to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument for a panoramic view of Boston.

• Where to eat
• Where to stay

Visit Campus

Experience northeastern.

Interested in learning more about Northeastern? Schedule an in-person tour of our Boston, Oakland, or London campus! If you are attending an upcoming tour, please review this page carefully for location-specific information regarding arrival, parking, and other helpful tips to prepare for your visit. Campus visits are offered year-round.

Schedule a Visit

Hosted by our admissions team, your campus visit experience will offer a firsthand look at life as a Northeastern student. Make your plans now to come to an in-person information session and campus tour designed to bring you a 360-degree view of the Northeastern experience. Whether you want to come to Boston to check out our 73-acre urban oasis in the heart of “America’s college town,” experience our 135-acre Oakland campus centered in the rich culture and history of the Bay Area, or visit our London campus amid the UK’s most iconic sites, you can use our visit portal to make your plans today. You can also use the portal to register for virtual and group visits.

What to Expect

Information sessions.

This session will offer a high-level overview of Northeastern’s experienced-powered approach to education, the student experience, and the admissions and financial aid process.

Campus Tours

Following the information session is a Husky Ambassador-led tour of our Boston or Oakland campus. These 60-minute tours showcase our academic facilities, university housing, and award-winning green spaces.

COVID-19 Policy

Guests visiting our campus are expected to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 but are not required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test. For more information about our COVID-19 policies for events, click here .  

Arrival and Parking

Both our Boston and Oakland campuses are located in busy urban areas. Whether you are driving, using a ride share service, or taking public transit, we encourage you to plan ahead for traffic and other slowdowns. Thank you for doing your best to arrive on time for your scheduled campus visit. Please keep an eye on your email for any updates or changes related to your scheduled visit before you come to campus.

Boston tours depart from our Visitor Center located in West Village F at 40 Leon St., Boston, MA. Validated parking is available in the West Village Garage at 30 Leon St. If this garage reaches capacity, overflow parking will become available in the Columbus Garage at 795 Columbus Ave. Please bring your ticket to the Visitor Center for validation during check-in.

If you are arriving using a ride share provider such as Uber or Lyft, we recommend entering 40 Leon St. as your destination. If you plan to use public transit, please visit the city of Boston’s MBTA website for the latest service updates and plan accordingly.

All visitors enter our Oakland campus through the main gate at 5000 Macarthur Blvd., Oakland, CA. When you arrive, check in with security at the main entrance and let them know you are visiting for an admissions tour. They will provide you with additional parking and arrival instructions. Tours begin at our Visitor Center located in Lisser Hall, and free parking is available along Richards Road as you drive into campus. Additional parking is also available behind Cowell Hall.

If you are arriving using a ride share provider such as Uber or Lyft, we recommend entering 5000 Macarthur Blvd. as your destination. If you plan to use public transit, please visit the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) website for the latest service updates and plan accordingly.

When you arrive at our campus entrance, you will be greeted by a member of our security staff. You and your guests will be required to present government-issued IDs and share the reason for your visit to be allowed entry.

School, community-based organization, or other group visits

We welcome group tour requests for high schools, community-based organizations, or other groups of 10-50 visitors. The visit will consist of a 60 minute tour of campus led by one of our tour guides. All groups are required to be accompanied by at least one chaperone per 10 students. These visits must be approved by Admissions staff and further details regarding the visit will be provided upon tour request approval. Please note: Group visit requests must be made at least two weeks in advance and are not available on weekends.

If you have questions about your upcoming visit to one of our campuses, please use email us at the appropriate address:

• Boston campus : [email protected]
• Oakland campus : [email protected]
• London campus : [email protected]

Note that if you need to cancel or reschedule your tour, follow the link in your confirmation email to do so.

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About 100 people detained from Northeastern University pro-Palestinian protest

About 100 people were detained from a pro-Palestinian protest at Northeastern University’s Boston campus Saturday morning, according to university officials.

The university said its police department, with the help of local law enforcement, began clearing "an unauthorized encampment" on the campus early in the morning.

"What began as a student demonstration two days ago, was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern," the university said in its statement on X . "Last night, the use of virulent anti-Semitic slurs, including 'Kill the Jews,' crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus."

Video circulating online appears to show the statement being made by a counterprotester holding an Israeli flag, who was met with boos from other protesters on campus. It's not clear if the person who said the antisemitic phrase was among those detained or disciplined.

The leading student organization behind the protest, Huskies for a Free Palestine, or HFP, called the administration’s statement "false narratives," and accused the administration of implying the phrase was said by pro-Palestinian protesters and using it "as justification to arrest over 100 Northeastern faculty, workers, and students."

University spokesperson Renata Nyul said, “That language has no place on any university campus” no matter the context.

The university said that of the approximately 100 people police detained, students “who produced a valid Northeastern ID were released.”

“They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action,” the statement said. “Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested.”

Videos posted on HFP's Instagram showed what the group says were students being arrested. Police officers in riot gear could also be seen in videos on campus.

"Why are you in riot gear? I don’t see no riot here," protesters could be heard chanting to the officers, along with, "Who do you serve? Who do you protect?"

In other videos posted to HFP's Instagram, protesters chanted, "Free, free Palestine," and, "Disclose, divest. We will not stop, we will not rest."

In an update shared Saturday afternoon, the university said the quad in Centennial Common, where people were protesting, "was fully secured and all campus operations have returned to normal."

"We want to thank NUPD, our Student Life staff, and the university’s external partners for their flawless execution this morning," the statement read. The university would not clarify who said the antisemitic slur mentioned in their original statement.

HFP shared a message to the administration on Instagram regarding the arrests, which the group says were mostly of nonviolent students.

"We sincerely hope that northeastern university administration is aware. You may arrest peaceful protestors. But you CAN NOT stop the movement," the statement read. "We are students against genocide, and we always will be. Your intimidation will never change that."

The student group said it is participating in the protest because Northeastern "refuses to even address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis that the Genocide against Palestinians had created" and "refuses to cut ties to weapon manufacturers doing business with the Israeli military," according to its Instagram .

HFP demands that the university disclose its current financial investments, divest from all Israeli companies and others that profit from war in Gaza and "denounce Israel's genocide in Palestine and call for an immediate ceasefire" as well as an end to Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories.

Northeastern University is one of dozens of universities in the U.S. and Canada where students are protesting for Palestinian human rights after months of war in Gaza, including Columbia , the University of Southern California and Emory.

Students participating in protests on campuses in North America have similar demands to HFP, including divestment from companies that could be profiting from the war and transparency from university administrations regarding where they’re investing their money.

On Friday, Portland State University President Ann Cudd announced that the institution will put a pause on receiving “any further gifts or grants” from Boeing, after receiving a letter signed by members of the community. The university’s Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights has accused Boeing of being “complicit in the occupation and genocide in Palestine,” according to a post on its Instagram account. A spokesperson for Boeing said the company has no comment.

Many universities have said they support freedom of speech and allow protests, but that encampments violate school policy. On Saturday, dozens of people were arrested at other colleges that cracked down on encampments.

At Arizona State University, 69 people were arrested and accused of trespassing related to setting up an encampment, according to a university spokesperson. The school said the encampment was established by people who were not university students, faculty or staff, and that they refused instructions to disperse.

Police arrested 23 people at Indiana University on Saturday after protesters were warned to remove tents or other structures that violated university policy. Those who didn’t were “detained and removed,” the university said. The people arrested face charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement. It’s unclear whether they are affiliated with the university.

At Washington University in St. Louis, more than 80 arrests were made after a group of students, employees and others not affiliated with the campus refused to leave after pitching tents and calling on others to join their protest, the university said in a statement. "All will face charges of trespassing and some may also be charged with resisting arrest and assault, including for injuries to police officers," the school said.

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Joe Kottke is a researcher at the NBC News Network Desk.

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Boston police arrest 100 as crackdown on campus Palestine protests ramps up

At least 93 students detained at USC and 34 arrested in Austin while House speaker faced jeers at Columbia University

More than 100 people were arrested at Emerson College in Boston early on Thursday in the latest crackdown against the rising wave of campus pro-Palestinian protests across the US that has seen the House speaker, Mike Johnson , suggest calling in the national guard.

Johnson waded into an already tense situation on Wednesday with a visit to Columbia University, where the decision last week of the university president, Minouche Shafik, to invite the NYPD to dismantle a student encampment catalysed what is rapidly becoming a national movement. Johnson nevertheless called for the resignation of Shafik, facing jeers on campus from the pro-Palestinian protesters.

At University of Texas in Austin at least 34 protesters, including a member of the media from a local news station, were arrested overnight, while at 93 more were detained by police dressed in riot gear at the University of Southern California (USC), the Los Angeles Times reported .

In mass arrests at USC , militarized officers were filmed appearing to shoot rubber bullets into a crowd of peaceful demonstrators. While described as “less-lethal weapons”, rubber bullets can cause serious injury or even death . Further north at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, protesters barricaded themselves in a university building using furniture, tents, chains and zip-ties, prompting a campus shutdown.

The arrests in Boston came after Emerson officials ordered student protesters on Wednesday to dismantle their encampment-style demonstration in the city’s Boylston Place Alley, where students had been protesting since Sunday, WBZ-TV reported .

Students say they were peacefully protesting when the mass arrests began around 1.30am on Thursday. One student who spoke to WBZ-TV anonymously said that students were “dragged” and “pushed away … without much regard for [their] safety.” A Boston police spokesperson told WBZ-TV that four officers were injured, all non-life-threatening.

The original encampments at Columbia called for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers with ties to Israel. The protests have led to mass suspensions of students, and the arrests of hundreds .

At Columbia, flanked by a number of Republican members of Congress, Johnson denounced the demonstrations as “mob rule” and condemned what he called a “virus of antisemitism” at colleges nationwide.

“And it’s detestable, as Columbia has allowed these lawless agitators and radicals to take over,” he said. “If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the national guard.”

Johnson’s speech drew boos from the crowd, as he also called for the resignation of Shafik, who he accused of failing to protect Jewish students and allowing protests that led to the arrest of dozens of people there last week.

As temperatures rose, Kathy Hochul, the Democratic governor of New York , called Johnson’s trip “divisive”, while the Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez assailed authorities for the “reckless and dangerous act” of calling police to non-violent demonstrations.

Hochul accused Johnson of “politicizing” the issue, and “adding to the division”, according to the New York Post . “There’s a lot more responsibilities and crises to be dealt with in Washington,” she said.

Most of the protests involve pro-Palestinian students, some of them Jewish, demanding their schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they consider to be enabling the brutal conflict in Gaza.

More than 140 students, faculty members and others were arrested on Monday night at a protest at New York University’s Manhattan campus.

At UC Berkeley, meanwhile, the “Free Palestine Camp” has grown over three days into a sit-in demanding their school sever its financial connections to BlackRock and other asset managers they see as complicit for financing genocide in Gaza . UC Berkeley holds a $427m investment in a BlackRock portfolio.

Some protesters are also calling for an academic boycott, which would end collaborations with Israeli universities and the establishment of a new Palestinian studies program.

Police responding to a demonstration at USC got into a back-and-forth tugging match with protesters over tents. As of 7pm local time more than a dozen people were arrested at the campus, according to a Los Angeles Times reporter on the scene. Video shows officers shoving students.

At Cal Poly Humboldt, a public university on California’s northern coast, the campus has been closed and classes are being held remotely after pro-Palestinian protesters barricaded themselves in a building for a sit-in. Dozens of students remain inside the building and have blocked entrances with furniture, according to the university, while others occupied another nearby building. Students there told the Sacramento Bee they felt compelled to take action.

“I think the solution is to get involved, because at least I can feel like I’m doing my part. Even if it’s not enough, I’m doing the best I can to make something of it. I find peace in that,” one student said.

At UT Austin, hundreds of local and state police – including some on horseback and holding batons – clashed with protesters, pushing them off the campus lawn and at one point sending some tumbling into the street.

A photographer covering the demonstration for Fox 7 Austin was arrested after being caught in a push-and-pull between officers and students, the station confirmed. A longtime Texas journalist was knocked down in the mayhem and could be seen bleeding before police helped him to emergency medical staff who bandaged his head.

Faculty at UT Austin will be striking in response to what they called a “militarized response” to a “peaceful, planned action”, stating on X that they are refusing to hold classes starting on Thursday.

At Columbia, the focal point of national student demonstrations, Shafik said on Wednesday that she had extended by 48 hours a deadline for talks with protest leaders for the dismantling of a tent encampment on Columbia’s west lawn.

Some Jewish students at Columbia said they had been physically blocked by protesters from attending classes, and subjected to racial hatred by demonstrators demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and for the university to divest from companies linked to Israel’s military operations.

Protest organizers blame outside actors for particularly inflammatory rhetoric against Jewish students.

Johnson’s visit to Columbia follows a number of other trips there this week by bipartisan groups of politicians. Three competing delegations attended on Monday, Axios reported , with the entirety of New York’s Republican congressional delegation demanding Shafik’s resignation, and Democrats criticizing her for not protecting Jewish students and faculty.

Joe Biden does not plan to visit Columbia when he visits New York on Friday, the White House and campaign officials told CNN. The White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said in a Wednesday statement that Biden believes free speech, debate and nondiscrimination are important on college campuses, adding that “students should feel safe on college campuses”.

The Associated Press contributed reporting

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Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate

Chandelis Duster, Christina Zdanowicz and Lucy Bayly

Follow the latest live coverage about pro-Palestinian protests on US college campuses here.

Rep. Torres: Columbia president “should step aside” if she cannot lead with moral clarity

From CNN's Chandelis Duster

New York Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat, criticized Columbia University President Minouche Shafik, saying she has “chosen to surrender control of Columbia to an antisemitic fringe." Torres also said canceling in-person classes is “an admission of failure” by Shafik.

“If you cannot ensure the safety of your students, then you have no business serving as President of any university, let alone the alma mater of Alexander Hamilton,” Torres said in a statement. “What Columbia University needs is not an appeaser of antisemitism but a leader who will fight with moral clarity against it.”

He continued, “That Columbia University has failed its Jewish students so profoundly is an indelible stain on the soul of the institution. If the President of Columbia University cannot lead with moral clarity, then she should step aside for a true leader who can and will.”

Hakeem Jeffries: Antisemitic rhetoric "unacceptable and deeply disturbing"

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday condemned antisemitism amid ongoing protests at Columbia University and other colleges across the US. 

“The antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation deployed by some students and outside protestors on college campuses in New York City and beyond is completely unacceptable and deeply disturbing,” Jeffries, a Democrat who also represents New York, said in a statement. “Every American has the constitutional right to free speech and peaceful assembly in the public square. However, intentionally targeting Jews or any community on the basis of race, religion or ethnicity, acts of harassment and the use of physical violence will never be tolerated.” 

He also said the effort to crush antisemitism and hatred “is not a Democratic or Republican issue. It’s an American issue that should bind us all together.”

“We will continue to do everything possible to protect the Jewish community during this very fraught moment, fight the cancer of antisemitism and redouble our efforts to bring communities together,” Jeffries said.

Trump says Columbia University made “grave mistake” making classes hybrid amid tense demonstrations on campus

From CNN's Kate Sullivan

Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday he thought leadership at Columbia University made a “grave mistake” in making all classes at its main campus hybrid until the spring semester ends after days of tense demonstrations on campus.

“What's going on with the colleges where they're closing Columbia now? I mean, it's just crazy. Columbia should gain a little strength, a little courage and keep their school open. It's crazy. Because that means the other side wins,” Trump told reporters at Trump Tower as he took a few questions after greeting former Japanese prime minister Taro Aso.

 Trump said, “The people running Columbia have made a grave mistake.”

Barnard students on suspension "no longer have access" to most campus buildings

From CNN's John Towfighi

Barnard President Laura Rosenbury confirmed in a statement yesterday that students on interim suspension "no longer have access to most Barnard buildings."

She said Dean Leslie Grinage is "helping students find alternative housing arrangements when needed."

The statement also said Barnard will consider lifting suspensions for students who have an otherwise clean record and commit to a probationary period.

A Barnard student alleged on X that she was suspended and evicted from housing.

Correction: This post has been updated to correct President Rosenbury's first name. It is Laura.

House Speaker Johnson to visit Columbia University Wednesday

From CNN's Melanie Zanona

House Speaker Mike Johnson will head to Columbia University Wednesday to visit with Jewish students and deliver remarks and hold a press conference “regarding the troubling rise of virulent antisemitism on America’s college campuses,” according to his office.

This comes as pro-Palestinian protests have rocked major American universities, including Columbia. After days of tense demonstrations, Columbia University announced it is  moving to mostly hybrid classes  on its main campus until the end of the semester, April 29.

New York House Republicans have called on Columbia president Minouche Shafik to resign immediately for failing to crack down on the protests.

Students, faculty and staff at University of New Mexico protest in support of Gaza

From CNN's Taylor Romine

Students, faculty and staff at the University of New Mexico started protesting Monday in support of Gaza and have done so peacefully, the university said in a statement Tuesday. 

On Tuesday, "members of our UNM community assembled at the UNM Duck Pond in peaceful protest," the statement said. Some people brought tents and sleeping bags, which is in violation of school policy, and campus police told them citations or arrests would occur if not removed, they said. 

"Police monitored the situation throughout the evening, without incident, and around midnight advised those who were remaining that their tents needed to be taken down or they would be cited," the statement said. "The tents were eventually taken down, with some people remaining at the duck pond."

As of Tuesday, there are about a dozen people at the duck pond with banners and chairs, but no tents, the statement said, and the university continues to monitor the situation. 

"The University is grateful to our entire community for modeling how protests can occur in a way that both upholds freedom of expression and ensures a safe and productive campus environment for everyone," the statement said. 

Students at Columbia University encampment say they plan to occupy until demands are met

From CNN's Omar Jimenez and Taylor Romine

Students occupying the West Lawn at Columbia University said Tuesday they are planning on staying there until the university meets their demands of divestment.

They are asking for a “complete divestment” from anything related to Israel, financial transparency into the university’s investments and amnesty from any disciplinary measures for students participating in the protests.  

“This is what we are here for – calling for an end to genocide and for Columbia to financially divest from the violent Zionist settler entity,” a student who identified themself as W told CNN. 

“We are putting our principles into action, and we plan to continue to do so by being here every day until Columbia divests." 

The group is in negotiations with the university through a legal negotiator, said student organizer Khymani James, who declined to share details of the negotiations.  

When asked about the encampment making Jewish students feel unsafe on campus, W said protesters try their best “to make sure everyone feels safe in the encampment," and their community guidelines “preach and hope for peace continuously.” 

Columbia University officials warn ongoing encampment is in violation of university rules

From CNN's Sara Smart

Columbia University officials warned Tuesday that the ongoing encampment is in violation of university rules — but school leaders have not given specifics on disciplinary actions.

“The safety of our community is our number one priority,” university spokesperson Ben Chang said in a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “That includes the safety of the encampment that continues to grow. We are watching this closely.”

University officials met with student organizers until 2 am ET Tuesday to discuss the situation, Chang said. “Columbia students have the right to protest but they are not allowed to disrupt campus life or harass and intimidate fellow students and members of our community," he added.

Chang said acts of vandalism, reports of harassment and discrimination have all been reported during the ongoing protest.

Officials will not release the specifics of student suspensions as “disciplinary actions continue” on campus.

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Biden condemns "antisemitic protests" and "those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians"

By Kathryn Watson

Updated on: April 22, 2024 / 10:42 PM EDT / CBS News

President Biden on Monday weighed in on the pro-Palestine demonstrations taking place at elite university campuses. 

"I condemn the antisemitic protests," Mr. Biden told reporters after an Earth Day Event in Northern Virginia Monday. "That's why I've set up a program to deal with that. I also condemn those who don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians." A reporter cut off the president's sentence before he could finish. 

More than 100 people have been arrested at Columbia University since pro-Palestine protesters began occupying the grounds last week, and police arrested 45 protesters at Yale University on Monday after the demonstrators repeatedly refused to vacate the plaza voluntarily. Protesters outside of NYU's Stern School of Business were arrested Monday night .

Students at Yale and Columbia are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and demanding their universities divest from companies connected to Israel. But some  Jewish students at Columbia say many of the chants are antisemitic, and they're concerned about their safety. 

Similar protests  have been taking place at other college campuses, including at MIT, Boston University, Emerson College and Tufts University. 

Other top Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, both of New York, have criticized the demonstrations, too. The protests come as Passover is set to begin at sundown Monday. 

Calls are growing for Columbia's president, Nemat "Minouche" Shafik, to resign, as Columbia goes fully remote in an effort to deescalate the situation. 

The entire Republican congressional New York delegation called for Shafik's resignation Monday, accusing her of failing to keep students safe.

"The ongoing situation that has unfolded is a direct symptom of your continued lax enforcement of policy and clear double standards," the lawmakers wrote. "Your failure to enforce the rules on campus has created an environment in which students and outside agitators know they are able to operate with impunity and without any accountability. While the rot is systemic, the responsibility rests squarely on your shoulders."

GOP Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who was just outside Columbia University on Monday, said, "Everybody has the right to protest. They have the right to voice their opinion. The moment you turn that into physical assaults or threats against others is the moment you lose that right."

Shafik testified before Congress for several hours last week, telling Congress, "Antisemitism has no place on our campus and I am personally committed to doing everything I can to confront it directly."

Some Jewish congressional Democrats also went to Columbia's campus to offer their support for Jewish students. They did not echo the calls for Shafik's resignation, but demanded the restoration of order.

Addressing his remarks to the university's administrators, Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, said, "Stop the double talk and start acting now. Discipline harassers, restore civility on this campus, encourage peaceful, constructive dialogue."

Mr. Biden declined Monday to weigh in on Shafik's fate. 

At the same Earth Day event with Mr. Biden, progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York cited the "peaceful student-led protests" at Columbia University and other campuses, highlighting how politically sensitive the politics are with respect to the Israel-Hamas conflict. 

The president also condemned antisemitism at protests at university campuses in a written statement Sunday night. 

"Silence is complicity," he said. "Even in recent days, we've seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous – and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country."

Israel continues near-daily aid raids on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of many civilians, including children. 

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Kathryn Watson is a politics reporter for CBS News Digital based in Washington, D.C.

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Rare visit by House speaker to campus escalates tension at Columbia

“Get off our campus!” one student yelled. “Go back to Louisiana, Mike!” someone shouted.

NEW YORK — House Speaker Mike Johnson and his Republican colleagues were met with boos, laughs and pro-Palestinian chants after parachuting into one center of the roiling protest movement against Israel’s war against Hamas: Columbia University in New York City.

Johnson and a group of GOP lawmakers landed on campus — where tensions are high between the university administration and students who have erected pro-Palestinian encampments — and demanded that Columbia’s president, Nemat “Minouche” Shafik, resign for failing to quickly dismantle the encampments and, in their view, for not doing enough to ensure that Jewish people on campus feel safe.

Around 4 p.m. Wednesday, the Louisiana Republican — who just shepherded through Congress a $26 billion aid package for Israel, including $9 billion in humanitarian help to Gaza and elsewhere — appeared on the steps of Columbia’s stately library, which looks out over the student encampments. Signs of a campus on edge were all over: A dozen New York police officers stood guard outside the school’s big black gates on Broadway. Bike racks strung with yellow police tape cordoned off some of the sidewalk.

“I am here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Shafik to resign if she could not immediately bring order to this chaos,” Johnson said. “As speaker of the House, I’m committed today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from their classes hiding in fear.”

A crowd of students, swelling as Johnson and his colleagues began speaking, intermittently laughed and yelled that they couldn’t hear the congressman or his colleagues. The students booed the speaker, chanted in support of Palestine, including “Free Palestine,” “Stop the genocide” and “ From the river to the sea ,” a phrase that some say constitutes antisemitic speech.

“Enjoy your free speech,” Johnson rejoined, sounding uncharacteristically irritated.

As Johnson wrapped up, the students renewed their boos and began to chant, “Mike, you suck!”

House Republicans have long accused elite colleges and universities of skewing left and pursuing a “woke” agenda that tramples on parental rights. But the antiwar outbursts on campuses across the country that began shortly after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel — and the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, according to the Anti-Defamation League — are now oft-repeated targets of Republican criticism. GOP lawmakers are seeking to slash federal funding for universities and have hauled university officials to Capitol Hill to answer questions such as whether “calling for the genocide of Jews” would violate their schools’ code of conduct.

“If these campuses cannot get control of this problem, they do not deserve taxpayer dollars,” Johnson said. “We’ll continue to work on legislation to adjust this at the federal level. This Congress — and I genuinely believe there’s bipartisan agreement on this — will stand for what is good and what is right.”

House Democrats descended Monday onto Columbia’s campus to express outrage over antisemitic harassment of Jewish students on and around campus. They included Jewish Reps. Josh Gottheimer (N.J.), Dan Goldman (N.Y.), Jared Moskowitz (Fla.) and Kathy Manning (N.C.).

The lawmakers’ pleas were not as forceful as Republicans’, who left no room for distinction between those targeting Jewish students and those peacefully protesting the Israel-Gaza war . But the Democrats were adamant about the need to protect students with backgrounds like theirs.

“Imagine trying to study for finals at Columbia, while people outside the library are calling for your death,” Gottheimer said at a news conference following their walk through campus. “To the administrators at Columbia and beyond, here are our demands: Stop the double talk and start acting. Discipline harassers. Restore civility on this campus. Encourage peaceful, constructive, civil dialogue. Every student has a right to be safe on campus.”

Johnson’s remarks came after he met with Jewish students at Columbia University, shared a meal with the university’s Rabbi Yuda Drizin and briefly met with Shafik before the news conference with three New York House Republicans and House Education and the Workforce Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.). Johnson said Republicans met with Shafik and other top officials and left the meeting believing that they had “not acted to restore order on the campus.”

Asked whether he believes the National Guard should be sent in to restore order on college campuses across the country, Johnson said, “If this is not contained quickly, and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard.”

Johnson also said he would call President Biden to inform him about what he saw on campus and “demand that he take action. There is executive authority that would be appropriate.”

The speaker’s visit marks the first time the top representative in the U.S. House has visited a college campus amid ongoing protests that have led to tense exchanges between pro-Palestinian and Jewish students. More than 100 people on Columbia’s campus were recently arrested and charged with trespassing, with several students who took part in the protest facing suspension just weeks before year’s end. Shafik called on the New York Police Department, whose officers arrived in riot gear, to arrest protesters just one day after she and other Columbia leaders told Congress she would make changes aimed at ending the harassment of Jewish students. The school also announced it would start a hybrid learning model for the rest of the year.

Neither Johnson nor Congress has any power to force a university president’s resignation. White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre on Wednesday declined to weigh in on whether Shafik should resign, telling reporters, “Columbia’s a private institution. We’ve been very consistent here about not commenting on personnel matters.”

House Republicans who visited Columbia with the speaker made clear they would follow through with punishing colleges and universities if the protests are not controlled.

“The inmates are running the asylum,” Foxx said. “The [Education and Workforce] committee will pursue every possible avenue to create a safe learning environment for Jewish students.”

Rep. Michael Lawler (R-N.Y.) was much more forceful in his rebuke of students, acknowledging that he too wants Palestinians to be free “from their oppressor, Hamas,” and characterized any students who support the terrorist organization as “an absolute abomination.”

“If you are a protester on this campus, and you are proud that you’ve been endorsed by Hamas, you are part of the problem,” fellow N.Y. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R) said.

House Republicans have been pummeling the heads of elite university institutions for months, using them as a punching bag to make a broader point about how out-of-touch elite institutions are with normal Americans. Johnson has previously invited Jewish students to meet with him in the Capitol, and he has often allowed them to tell their stories of being under attack at school during news conferences.

At a December hearing, the interrogation by House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) of Harvard President Claudine Gay over whether antisemitic remarks should be protected under free speech went viral.

The hearing led to a bipartisan call on Capitol Hill to denounce or demand the resignation of leaders at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for their responses, which were deemed out of touch. Penn President Liz Magill and Gay both resigned amid public outcry.

The hearing launched further investigations by the committee and continual hearings to combat antisemitism on college campus, ending in Shafik’s Capitol Hill testimony last Wednesday.

The Israel-Gaza war is also contentious among House Democrats, with liberals clashing with some Jewish colleagues early on in the war. That prompted Democratic leadership to attempt to keep attacks from becoming personal. Over the weekend, 37 liberals voted against sending $14 billion in aid to Israel over concerns that humanitarian aid would not reach Gaza, joining 21 Republicans who did not support the measure over spending concerns.

It’s just as complicated on Columbia’s campus. Basil Rodriguez, 23, argued Wednesday that Johnson and any lawmaker who backed sending aid to Israel is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Palestinians.

“I would urge him to reckon with his own positionality in the United States government and how the U.S. has been sending weapons that are falling in Gaza,” said Rodriguez, who is participating in the student encampment on campus. “He is directly complicit in this genocide unless he is a vocal advocate for it to stop.”

For Jewish student Spencer Davis, 19, the situation at Columbia is more nuanced than many of its critics have portrayed.

A member of a joint program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia, he was in the crowd watching Johnson speak. He said he feels safe on campus but understands why others do not and that his roommate booked a last-minute flight home over safety concerns. Davis said people have thrown things at members of his Jewish fraternity.

Still, Davis said, he believes the protests have been largely peaceful and questioned the motivations of politicians such as Johnson who have decried the encampment and Columbia’s leadership. “I think that a lot of Republican congresspeople are using this opportunity to further their culture war against liberal institutions like Columbia,” Davis said. “I think it has less to do with protecting Jewish students and more to do with their agenda, and they’re using Jewish students as pawns.”