The chancellor of Syracuse University, Kent Syverud, recently asserted that protests against Israel on U.S. campuses, particularly those supporting Hamas, were potentially influenced and orchestrated by Iran. This statement emerged during a panel discussion held in Washington, D.C., where Syverud addressed the nature of the demonstrations occurring at his institution and other universities across the nation.
During the panel, which included chancellors from Vanderbilt University and Washington University in St. Louis, Syverud characterized the protests as lacking significant participation from Syracuse students. He stated, “When things happened that I really believe were encouraged from Iran, [the protests] did not have the involvement of very many, if any, of our own students.”
Syverud highlighted a challenge in identifying individuals involved in these protests due to the widespread use of face coverings. He remarked, “People were using masks to avoid accountability for what they were saying and doing,” suggesting that these individuals could have been “activists from elsewhere.”
The discussion revealed a broader concern among university leaders regarding coordinated protest strategies. Daniel Diermeier, the chancellor of Vanderbilt, noted that there appeared to be organized networks behind the protests. He commented that students were utilizing a “playbook” similar to tactics seen at other institutions, such as Columbia University. Diermeier emphasized that this was “more than social contagion” and indicated a deliberate orchestration of events.
Chancellor Andrew D. Martin of Washington University supported Diermeier’s observations, sharing that many individuals involved in protests at his campus did not have affiliations with the university. He referred to an incident where an attempted encampment led to arrests, with “three quarters of those individuals” being unconnected to the institution.
The panel was organized by Alums for Campus Fairness, an organization dedicated to combating antisemitism on college campuses across the United States. The protests discussed by Syverud gained momentum following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which has led to widespread demonstrations at various universities.
Columbia University, in particular, has experienced a significant number of protests, with some occurring just outside its campus gates after the university revised its rules regarding demonstrations. In April, over 100 protesters were arrested when the NYPD intervened to disperse an encampment that hindered student movement on campus. In May, a group occupied the Butler Library, resulting in multiple arrests and disciplinary actions against over 70 students.
Similar demonstrations have taken place at other notable universities, including Harvard University, New York University, and University of California, Los Angeles. As of now, Syracuse University has not responded to requests for comments regarding these recent statements and events.
The increasing frequency and intensity of these protests raise important questions about the influences shaping campus activism and the broader implications for campus communities across the United States.
