In a country where colleges and universities are regarded as spaces for free and elevated thinking, in today’s political climate under President Donald Trump, there is a large threat against students and their right to express their opinions and take action in today’s political climate.
During 2024, there was nationwide controversy surrounding higher education institutions’ reactions to their students exercising their First Amendment right in the fight to free Palestine.
Last spring, five demonstrators were detained from Florida State’s campus, with two being students, after attempting to set up encampments in protest of the university’s ties to Israel, including funding Boeing, which sells weapons, including bombs, to Israel, and the Birthright Israel program, which sends Jewish students on an all-expenses-paid trip to Israel for 10 days.
“While there is significant freedom regarding general opinions and everyday conversations, more controversial topics, like discussions about political candidates and protesting, can be heavily scrutinized by institutions,” said Kayla Davis, the political action chair for the Florida A&M University Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
In an article published by The Nation earlier this month, PhD student at the University of Chicago Harley Pomper details the calculated actions the school took against students, and the legislation passed to further enforce how students should exercise their right to free speech and protest and how the actions coincide with the Trump administration.
“In 2024, the University of Chicago alone arrested 29 students, two faculty, and even more community members, evicted two students, withheld five diplomas, pepper sprayed dozens, and took disciplinary action against more,” states Pomper in the article.
“We as Americans have different interpretations of what this freedom means, and for that reason, this makes it extremely harmful but also empowering in a way,” said Imani Linzy, a second-year political science and public administration student, who is also a member of the Civic Engagement and Public Policy Committee of the FAMU Section of the National Council of Negro Women.
Just last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to “combat antisemitism” by asking federal agencies to deport pro-Palestine protesters, including college students. Preceding Trump’s orders, there were multiple threats from Republicans to pull billions of dollars and accreditations from prestigious institutions
across the country for allowing the protests. Students must know that threats and such orders may infringe upon their civil rights as American citizens.
“Social justice initiatives, demonstrations for local government accountability and educational seminars should be sponsored and promoted by university organizations such as SGA or CAB, for students to participate in,” said Zula Oliveira, a third-year political science major who works to register students to vote with Florida Future Leaders.
Although students across the country face the threat of the dissolvement of the Department of Education and questionable legislation about their constitutional rights, they continue to use their voices and stand up for what they know is right.