Elite Colleges and Pro-Palestinian Tent-Cities: A Study Analysis

Elite Colleges and Pro-Palestinian Tent-Cities: A Study Analysis

Elite Colleges More Likely To Host Pro-Palestinian Tent-Cities, According to New Study

A recent study has indicated that elite colleges, particularly those with a higher concentration of students from high-income families, are more likely to witness the establishment of pro-Palestinian green tent cities.

Analysis of Pro-Palestinian Protests

Washington Monthly has conducted an analysis of pro-Palestinian protests, including tent cities, and found that these are more prevalent in institutions with a smaller percentage of Pell grant recipients. Pell grants are typically awarded to less affluent college students, making them a reliable indicator of the overall income of students. The analysis revealed that pro-Palestinian protests are not common in colleges with a high percentage of Pell students. Furthermore, tent cities are even less common in such institutions, with a few exceptions such as Cal State Los Angeles, the City College of New York, and Rutgers University–Newark.

Why Are Protests Rare in Less Affluent Colleges?

The authors of the study, Marc Novicoff and University of Tennessee Professor Robert Kelchen, have suggested several reasons for this trend. They propose that students in these colleges may have off-campus jobs and family responsibilities that prevent them from participating in protests. While these students may sympathize with the cause, they may not prioritize it. A nationwide poll of college students conducted in May found that while 45 percent support the tent cities, only 13 percent considered the conflict in the Middle East as their most important issue. This was significantly lower than issues such as health care reform, educational funding and access, and economic fairness and opportunity.

Political Leanings and Activism

The study also examined the political leanings of the student populations and suggested that campuses with less liberal students might be less receptive to pro-Palestinian activities. The authors concluded that pro-Palestinian protests are predominantly an elite college phenomenon. Commenting on the findings, Professor William Jacobson stated that this "elite college phenomenon" does not make the alliance among elites any less dangerous. He pointed out that terrorist groups in the west have traditionally been drawn from the wealthy and the elites, and while these individuals may be dangerous, they are "elite dangerous people."

Final Thoughts

This research highlights the interesting correlation between the socioeconomic status of students and the prevalence of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. It raises thought-provoking questions about the factors that influence student activism and the priorities of different student populations. What are your thoughts on this matter? Feel free to share this article with your friends and engage in a discussion. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.

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