As USC cancels the mainstage commencement, Columbia students worry theirs could be disrupted (USC initially announced the commencement was cancelled altogether - but pushback from parents, who paid over $100,000 for their students to attend, pushed back.)
This particular class had their high school years marred by the pandemic, so they had no "historical" version of a graduation and now protests against the Israel-Hamas war could threaten their college graduation ceremonies.
The issue is not about protecting and helping the Palestinians. Some of the students on college campuses who "protest" are calling for the end of Israel, the death of all Jews and that take it as far as blocking students from their classes, assaulting them, spitting on them and shouting vile tropes at them.
And yet, when asked for details as to what they are there for - many have no idea. They don't know the details of the region, they don't realize what they say is offensive and is actually calling for the deaths of anyone, they deny the barbaric attrocities of Oct 7th existed, etc.
It is past time for ALL universities to have a mandatory class that is fact-based about the history of Israel and the middle east. In 1948, when the Jewish state of Israel was made official - it was the greatest step in decolonization of a land EVER. It still is - as this is the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people.
Let's EDUCATE these students. Please pass the link for this petition on to your network. Thank you. MZM