Pro-Palestine protests: What students from Columbia, Harvard want from their university administrations

Across the United States, university campuses have become epicentres of activism as students erect encampments and organise demonstrations. These protests are particularly intense at prestigious institutions such as Columbia and Harvard.

We explain the demands the protesting students have and whether there is a chance that universities will agree to these tall asks.

Widespread protests in the US

Protests by students in the US have erupted in prestigious universities like Brown, Yale, Harvard, and, most notably, Columbia. The demonstrations are over the war in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian death toll in the city has surpassed the 34,300 mark amid reports that mass graves were uncovered in the coastal enclave.

Students have pitched tents on campuses en masse. They have put up signs and vowed not to move until their demands are met. The protests have also seen students organising sit-ins, teach-ins, and engaging in largely peaceful demonstrations to draw attention to their cause.

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The students’ demand for divestment

The specific demands articulated by the students vary from campus to campus. For instance, some students are calling for their universities to sever academic ties with Israeli institutions. Others want these educational institutions to support broader human rights initiatives, including a ceasefire in Gaza. Elsewhere, they have also called for an end to any retaliation towards students who have expressed their support for Palestinians. Furthermore, they have requested the university administrators to commit to not deploying police or any other law enforcement agencies to disperse student protests.

However, one central demand across these universities is for the institutions to divest from companies that are either directly linked to Israel or profit from its war in Gaza.

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Students have explicitly called for their universities to pull out their investments from companies that either supply military equipment used in the conflict or are involved in other business activities that support Israel’s war efforts.

Why divestment is a rallying point

For context, universities like Harvard and Columbia boast endowments that run into several billion dollars — Harvard’s endowment is over $40 billion, and Columbia’s is around $11 billion. This money is typically invested in a diverse portfolio that includes stocks, bonds, real estate, and private equity. This investment strategy is designed to maximise returns on investment, which in turn support scholarships, faculty salaries, research, and other educational activities.

The University of Michigan, with an endowment of approximately $18 billion, and other large universities, use their endowments similarly, employing professional asset managers to handle these funds. The investments are often spread across a broad array of assets, including indirect investments through funds.

A group of students from MIT have released the names of researchers who receive funding from Israel’s defence ministry. The students claim that these researchers are working on projects that could contribute to drone navigation and missile protection. According to pro-Palestinian students, MIT has received over $11 million from the defence ministry in the past ten years.

At Yale, student groups are urging divestment from military weapons manufacturers that aid Israel’s offensive.

Divestment would send a strong message of withdrawing support for Israel’s actions.

But have such calls for divestment ever been successful?

Historical successes of divestment movements

The concept of divestment as a tool for social change is not new. Historical precedents include the divestment from apartheid-era South Africa in the 1980s, a movement that saw 155 universities cut financial ties with companies doing business in South Africa, according to the Wall Street Journal.

More recently, movements such as the divestment from fossil fuels and private prisons have shown that sustained student activism can lead to substantial policy changes.

Still, the success of the current protests for divestment may not see such great results.

Challenges and opposition to divestment

The path to divestment in the context of the Israel-Palestine conflict is fraught with complexities. Universities’ investment portfolios are too intricate to allow for rapid divestment from specific companies or sectors.

Moreover, the symbolic nature of divestment from Israel-related investments carries heavy political and ethical implications. Critics, including some faculty and external commentators, have argued that endorsing such a divestment could be perceived as supporting the delegitimisation or even the destruction of the State of Israel, raising concerns about antisemitism.

Furthermore, the practical impact of divestment on the targeted companies is likely minimal. University endowments, although hefty amounts, represent but a small fraction of total investment in large public companies. Even complete divestment by several universities would only affect 1-2 per cent stake in most companies. Critics also point out that other investors would likely fill the gap left by universities, negating the impact of divestment actions.

The one area where student protests are having an impact is in raising awareness and sparking a broader conversation about justice and ethical responsibility. Thus, while the immediate financial impact might be limited, the symbolic and educational value of divestment remains a powerful tool in their ongoing advocacy for Palestinian rights and broader peace efforts.

With inputs from agencies