“Campsite [at my university] it began about per week ago. I do know two friends who were arrested,” Azida said, sharing her first-hand account of being surrounded by turmoil.
“Protests certainly do [had] huge impact on the way I conduct my classes.
“The university has announced that all students can now attend classes virtually because there is a heavy NYPD presence on campus, intimidating students.
“Many finals [sit-down] exams have also turned into finals that you can take home,” said Azida, who observes the protests and takes photos as a part of her photo reportage.
An American professor accuses Malaysia of promoting a “second Holocaust” during a lecture
An American professor accuses Malaysia of promoting a “second Holocaust” during a lecture
Nearly 50 U.S. universities, including many Ivy League institutions, witnessed pro-Palestinian demonstrations, including Columbia University, the University of California at Los Angeles, Yale University, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The AP reported that greater than 100 people were arrested at Columbia University on April 18.
So far, over 1,000 people have been arrested across the country.
The protesters are demanding a ceasefire within the conflict in Gaza, in addition to the university authorities renouncing funds from Israel.
Some universities warned protesters against camping on school grounds and even threatened them with expulsion.
The plight of the Palestinians is a problem near the hearts of Malaysians, but what was unexpected was the outpouring of support for his or her cause that swept across several distinguished US campuses.
Azida, who wears a hijab, said it was very visible that she was Muslim.
“I get really scared when I walk from my apartment to campus,” she said.
Fortunately for Azida, who focuses on negotiation and conflict resolution, her professors were very supportive of the situation.
“They ask if we need an extension of classes, if we need a space in the classroom to talk about what’s going on on campus,” she said.
Inas Anwar, vice-president of the Malaysian Student Association on the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), said students who wear a hijab, turban or keffiyeh face the identical prejudices.
“I learned a lot before I finally felt confident wearing my keffiyah proudly in various places on campus and speaking out about my position on Palestinian liberation,” she said.
Inas, who has previously participated in other protests on campus, said that unlike serious issues, there’s a “very vigorous” atmosphere at the coed camps.
“There are film screenings and speeches [and] dances,” she said, adding that there’s also a concerted effort to gather supplies and necessities for the camp.
While campus activities on the University of California, Berkeley haven’t been interrupted, Inas said some students have chosen to not attend classes as one other type of protest.
“The university has adopted a rather restrained attitude. “The administration issued several disappointing statements criticizing ‘anti-Semitism’ and completely missing the point of the demonstration,” she said, adding that there are many Jews on campus who support Palestine liberation.
Muiz Mustamir, a sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, said he supports the cause by donating to the student camp.
He added that the university takes a neutral position and avoids exacerbating anti-Semitic views.
“One of the main demands [from student protesters] is for the university to break its silence on the conflict,” Muiz said, adding that protesters are also pressuring the University of California, Berkeley to financially withdraw from Israel.
There is an uproar in Malaysia over Prime Minister Anwar’s “threats” following the Forest City casino report
There is an uproar in Malaysia over Prime Minister Anwar’s “threats” following the Forest City casino report
Many Malaysian students said they had contacted officials and their sponsors in Malaysia about the situation.
Muiz said his student discussion group received an informal text advising them to prioritize their safety and avoid the risk of suspension or arrest.
Despite the escalating situation, Azid, Inas and Muiz intend to remain in the US until they graduate in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Tur Chung, a doctoral candidate in deaf education and a Fulbright scholar at the University of Tennessee, said there have been no protests at his university, adding that many are busy with end-of-semester exams.
Although he does not follow reports about the protests, he recommended that protest participants refrain from breaking university regulations.
“The university cannot cope with this [student] protests for a long time,” he said, stating that some stakeholders are contributing huge amounts of cash to sponsor scholarships, activities and programs.
“Without sponsors, universities cannot develop [or run] some programs.”
