Students at Rutgers University showed patriotism by waving American flags and chanting “USA!” in counter to anti-Israel protests on campus. The students sang the National Anthem and stood up for American values amidst chaos on campus. This movement, inspired by a similar event at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, is hoped to spread across the country. The protests at Rutgers led to the cancellation of final exams, causing concern for the safety and well-being of the large Jewish student community on campus.
Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway called the decision to cancel exams due to protests “unprecedented” as Students for Justice in Palestine called for a significant rally intended to disrupt finals for students. While the university respects free speech and the right to protest, it aims to balance these rights with the safety and education of students. The protests on campus ultimately disrupted 28 exams and impacted over a thousand students, prompting the need for a response from university administration to ensure a safe and secure environment for learning.
The events at Rutgers mirrored a similar incident at UNC-Chapel Hill where students held up an American flag amid campus protests, which went viral. Protesters at Chapel Hill initially replaced the American flag with a Palestinian flag before being stopped by a group of students, fraternity members, and law enforcement. Despite attempts to disrupt the display of the American flag, students at UNC and now Rutgers have stood up to prevent it from being taken down. A GoFundMe campaign for the Chapel Hill students raised over $500,000 before being closed, indicating widespread support for their actions.
A Jewish student named Abbey at Rutgers expressed concern for the safety of the Jewish community on campus and commended the students who stood up for American values and support for Israel. The display of patriotism and unity in the face of protests reflects the students’ belief in the principles of the country. The hope is that the movement that started at UNC and continued at Rutgers will inspire students nationwide to stand against disruptive and violent protests on college campuses.
Jeremy Li, a student at Rutgers, emphasized the importance of students standing up against chaos and protests that disrupt campus life. He highlighted the need for a peaceful and safe environment for students to learn and succeed without being hindered by external disruptions. The events at Rutgers and UNC have drawn attention to the issue of balancing free speech with the educational needs of students, prompting university leaders to address the challenges posed by protests on campus. The hope is that the actions taken by students at these universities will serve as a model for others facing similar challenges across the country.