CAMPUS PROTESTS AND POLICY EVOLUTION: HOW STUDENT MOVEMENTS HAVE RESHAPED UNIVERSITY GOVERNANCE AND SPEECH CODES
Creager, Kian
Creager, Kian
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2025-05-19
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Abstract
This thesis explores how student-led protests surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict influenced university governance and campus speech policies at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. Through a qualitative case study approach, the research analyzes institutional responses across three politically and structurally distinct campuses using policy documents, legal filings, media coverage, and university communications. The findings reveal that while student protests consistently challenged university norms and called for structural change, the outcomes varied significantly. UC Berkeley adopted a more collaborative approach, facilitating dialogue and administrative concessions. In contrast, Columbia University and UT Austin employed aggressive disciplinary and law enforcement measures, with Columbia experiencing external political intervention that reshaped its internal governance. Across all cases, the political climate, leadership style, and institutional structure collectively defined as "institutional identity" emerged as critical factors in determining outcomes. The research underscores the ongoing influence of student activism in shaping policy but also highlights the limitations of protest power within constrained political and administrative environments. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between activism, governance, and institutional values in higher education.