President Paul Alivizatos acknowledged the importance of free speech but felt the expression had become dominant and disruptive.

Tensions have escalated at colleges in the US and Europe during the past three weeks of protests.

Colleges have responded differently to protests against the Israel-Hamas war.

Some have cracked down with arrests, while others have allowed tent encampments.

As of April 18, over 2,600 people have been arrested on 50 campuses.

Wesleyan University, a liberal arts school in Connecticut, has commended the on-campus demonstration, which includes a pro-Palestinian tent encampment, as an act of political expression.

The camp there has grown from about 20 tents to over 100.

The president of Wesleyan supports the protests, which bring attention to the killing of innocent people.

The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) supports students' right to peaceful protests, even if it disrupts campus operations to some extent.

Students at RISD have been occupying a building since Monday, displaying posters and chalk messages supporting Palestine.

The school has relocated affected classes and President Crystals Williams held discussions with protesters.

Previous attempts to resolve protests on campuses have ranged from appeasement to threats of disciplinary action, with the University of Chicago being an example where protesters were warned to leave or face removal after gathering for eight days.

On Tuesday, law enforcement dismantled a protest encampment at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Some protesters chanted and pushed back against officers as they moved a barricade to reestablish control.

UNC officials warned instructors against withholding grades as a form of protest for suspended students.

At MIT, protesters were given a deadline to leave or face suspension.

Many left after demonstrators from outside the university breached fencing.

UNC and MIT are taking action against instructors who withhold grades and protesters who breach university property.

On Monday, dozens of students remained at an encampment at MIT, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza and protesting the university's research ties to the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

MIT officials announced disciplinary actions against students, including interim suspensions and referrals to discipline committees, to ensure community safety.

Protesters, including members of MIT Jews for a Ceasefire, want schools to divest from companies involved in the conflict or contributing to the war effort.

Some are prepared to continue protesting through the summer until their demands are met.

A physics major and a graduate student at Wesleyan University expressed their concerns about the university's handling of protests regarding Palestinian rights.

They believe that tuition money is still being used to harm Palestinians and that the university's promises of non-violence are not enough.

Protesters fear being forcibly removed from campus during the upcoming commencement.

Frank Straub, a violence prevention expert, emphasized the importance of early dialogue between the university, police, and protesters to establish ground rules and prevent potential conflicts.

Wesleyan University, according to Straub, should have discussions about protest locations during commencement and have a plan in place to respond if protesters wish to be arrested without violence.

Protests at Wesleyan and other universities stem from the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel, which began on October 7, 2021, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 civilian deaths and the taking of roughly 250 hostages.

In response, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza, resulting in over 34,500 Palestinian deaths, about two-thirds of whom were women and children.

The text indicates that Israeli strikes have caused significant damage to an enclave, leading to the displacement of most of its residents.