Chancellor Kent Syverud of Syracuse University asserted during a panel in Washington, D.C., that anti-Israel protests on college campuses were ‘encouraged from Iran.’ His comments, made alongside chancellors from Vanderbilt and Washington University, suggested the presence of external activists and organized networks in fueling the demonstrations. Syverud noted that the protests on his campus and others across the U.S. lacked significant local student involvement, implying that the actions were orchestrated and not merely spontaneous social contagion.
Chancellor Daniel Diermeier of Vanderbilt echoed these concerns, suggesting that protest strategies were taken from previous events at Columbia, indicating a level of pre-planning beyond spontaneous social contagion. Washington University Chancellor Andrew D. Martin also agreed, describing how some protesters who were arrested on his campus had no association with the university. The discussion arose amid a series of anti-Israel demonstrations, particularly following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, and the chancellors expressed worries about the safety and integrity of academic environments.
The panel, organized by Alums for Campus Fairness, a group dedicated to combating antisemitism, highlighted the broader concerns of university leaders about the impact of these protests on campus life. Syverud also addressed the use of face masks or coverings by protesters to shield their identities, making it difficult to hold individuals accountable for their actions. This issue sparked debates over campus accountability and the influence of external actors in shaping student activism.
Columbia University, in particular, has faced significant anti-Israel protests that have often occurred just outside campus gates following its changes to permit demonstrations. In April, over 100 protesters were arrested after the NYPD broke up an encampment that impacted students’ ability to navigate campus. In May, protesters occupied Butler Library, calling it ‘Basel Al-Araj Popular University,’ and multiple arrests were made. Similar protests also occurred at Harvard, NYU, and UCLA, indicating a widespread trend of anti-Israel activism on U.S. campuses.