Some good news about campus protests

As we wallow in the bad news about pro-Hamas demonstrations on campuses, there is good news.

The campus encampments have a ‘sell-by” date: The academic year is almost over. Even if nothing is done, the encampments will melt away in the summer heat.

But that does not mean that university administrations should do nothing.

But first — more good news.

On every campus where the tents have gone up, the protesters represent a tiny fraction of the student body, most of whom have finals, beer, and pickle ball on their minds.

When Penn students fill a lawn, it seems like a lot. The Inquirer estimated 400 students on College Green the other night.

But there are 28,000 students at Penn, so the group on College Lawn is a tiny sliver of the student body.

Generally speaking, students have made “demands” of their colleges, many different demands. Some want the school to reveal its investments. Some want the schools to disinvest in any munitions firms. Some want schools to break ties with Israeli educational institutions. Some want statements condemning Israel.

What next — banning Jewish students?

Somehow, because these students’ parents are wealthy enough  to pay confiscatory tuition fees, the students think they have a right to write school policy.

They do not, and is a reflection of the low-information world in which they live. They don’t call it the Ivory Tower for nothing.

Penn, Columbia, Yale — to take three in the news — are private institutions and can write any rules or regulations they care to, as long as they don’t violate U.S. law. 

Public institutions — such as the University of Texas, and the University of Florida — are answerable to the state and — importantly — to the taxpayers and voters.

We all agree on the right of free speech, which includes the right of assembly to redress grievances.

The word the protestors forget is peaceably,  the manner in which you assemble.

Taking over space on campus without permission is a violation of law, and using your freedom of speech to advocate violence against others is also unlawful.

So what are universities to do?

First, announce and publish the guidelines for protest. Second, announce what the punishment will be for breaking the rules. Third, enforce it.

While some universities quickly called in police to disperse trespassers, other universities seemed reluctant to use force. At Penn, the interim president issued a statement that tents were against school policy and demanded they be removed “Immediately.”

They were still there 48 hours later because “Immediately” means nothing. 

This was equivalent to President Joe Biden’s threat of “Don’t” to Iran. The ayatollahs ignored it and unleashed a ferocious missile barrage against Israel. Why? Because the threat carried no consequences.

It was the same for the homeless encampment on the Parkway in 2020, when the city gave the encampment warning after warning to disburse. They didn’t, and responded with a list of demands, mostly unreasonable. Months went by because Mayor Jim Kenney didn’t have the courage to act.

Penn’s interim president should have said, “Remove by noon Sunday or campus police, backed by Philadelphia police, will remove the tents and arrest students. Arrested students will be subject to expulsion.” 

The charges would be trespassing and/or disorderly conduct. I suggest expulsion because I do not believe D.A. Larry Krasner would prosecute the students any more than he prosecutes shoplifters. He has a habit of enforcing only the laws he agrees with.

Faculty who are arrested should face Penn-imposed sanctions. 

Students who obey the rules, who protest peacefully in designated areas, who do not threaten or harass other students, who do not deface the campus, would be free to express their views.

One final piece of good news. The protestors may have to recalibrate their rage, as more Gazans awaken to the realization than the ferocious Israeli response was caused by Hamas’  Oct. 7 massacre, which many of them cheered at the time.

They still hate Israel, of course, but polling is finding an increasing number of Gazans blaming Hamas for their misery.

If they can figure it out, so can the students.