thesis statement on school violence

School Violence - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

School violence encompasses physical violence, bullying, and any other form of aggressive behavior in educational settings. Essays on school violence could explore the psychological, social, and systemic factors contributing to violent behaviors, prevention and intervention strategies, and the impacts on academic and social outcomes for students. Moreover, discussions might delve into policy implications, community involvement, and global comparisons of school violence prevention programs. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of School Violence you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Growing Problem of School Violence

School Violence has been something that has changed the way we experience school. School violence has been something that's been going on for a long time. School violence has been happening around the world and has just changed the way our safety is at school. School violence is very dangerous and very deadly. In this case school violence may refer to school shootings, stabbings, bullying, sexual harassment , fights and or any harm that causes harm to anyone in the […]

Be Aware of School Violence

Violence in school is a big problem, there should be no reason our kids should be scared to come to school; according to the CDC, kids grades K-12th are constantly at risk of potential violent outbreaks from gang memberships, hazing, peer pressure, and drug usage. Cyber-bullying  has been a popular cause with the rise of technology and social platforms in the past few years; usually the culprit to the war between social acceptance. Mostly teens resort to being included in […]

Gerard Jones’ Biased Evaluation of Violence in Media

In the essay "Violent Media Is Good for Kids", Gerard Jones is arguing that violent media is more beneficial than harmful to children. In his essay, Jones explains how it is important for children to have a medium in which they can express their feelings in, instead of repressing them deep within themselves. Jones maintains that children need an outlet to release feelings that they tend to suffocate within themselves, because society has made rage and other feelings such as; […]

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Dealing with School-Based Weapon Violence

Weapon-based violence in school can be traced back to the 19th century. According to an article by Matthew Pearl, the very first school shooting occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1840 when a student named Joseph Semmes shot professor John Anthony who after three days had died from his injuries. In this case, the trend shows that violence was more common because violence was what slaveholders used against their slaves. Thus from 1840 to 1966 there were only small casualties at […]

Problem of Violence in Schools

Some ways we could stop school violence. The first thing we could do is to take guns away from households that have kids at an impressionable age. Something else we could do is show young kids the effects of bullying, not just emphasize that "you will hurt other people's feelings and make them sad." While we obviously need to teach young kids how to be kind, this message needs to be modified in a way that they can understand. We […]

Tragedy and the Meaning of School Shootings

""The phenomenon referred to as ""school shootings"" pertains mainly to those shootings where the school is deliberately chosen as the site of violence, the violence is perpetrated by a current or former student, and the targets are chosen symbolically or at random with the intention of causing as many deaths as possible"" (Travers, McDonagh & Elklit, 2018). One of the most recent concerns in education today is school safety protocols to prohibit an intruder. Over the past few decades, school […]

Effects of School Shootings

School shootings has only recently become a national concern. Just in the past few years' school shootings have become almost ""normal"" and many people will agree with that statement. There are people who believe that those who commit the school shootings are actually victims themselves, and have been bullied. Others believe there is no correlation between the students who do the school shootings because they believe they grew up in a supportive family, with no significant family issues. Within this […]

Students Violence in Moroccan High Schools

Teachers’ perceptions of Students’  Violence in Moroccan High school Introduction School violence is an educational psychological issue that has seen a considerable increase over the last decade. School violence is an activity that causes a dispute in the educational setting. It encompasses verbal and physical altercation. Besides, it is bullying through electronic ways or social media, threats, weapon use, or gang activity .School Violence can be defined as a physical or verbal harm inside the school, on the way to […]

Effects of Multi Media on Violence in School

School violence on students can cause psychological and physical pain. The physical pain they get can cause them to be hospitalized. Sometimes that school violence cause students to shoot up schools. People's aggressive behavior increased watching aggressive programs on TV. Students that watch aggressive TV show start to become tougher and less emotional. TV mainly effect students because in the show they watch they become aggressive with other people. Research has also shown that the viewers who watch violent shows […]

Gun Violence and the Second Amendment

According the Cornell Law Studies Institute, the second amendment states, "A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The Second Amendment of the constitution is one of the most misunderstood and confusing sentences in the history of America. The 27-word sentence has a partial collectivist ora while still maintaining the individualistic right to keep and bear arms. Before discussing the reasons behind […]

Issues of Violence in Schools

With an increased rate in juvenile delinquency, I chose to discuss the violence in schools; underlining the root of the issue, what policies are currently in place, and what steps are needed to create a more effective policy to resolve the issue. Some of the risk factors of school and youth violence come from prior history of violence, drug, alcohol and tobacco use, association with delinquent peers, poor family function, poor grades in school and poverty in the community.  "Data […]

Violence Caused by Media

Literature Review Violence in media such as, in television, video games, or movies has raised a substantial amount of concern regarding its effects on certain populations. Media violence portrays various graphic images and scenes that convey criminal acts or horror-like graphics such as, blood. Through studies of violence in mass media, there has been a correlation between themes of violence in media sources with real-world aggression and violence over time. Many social scientists have been able to support this correlation. […]

Gang Violence in Schools

Violence in schools, particularly gang violence, has increased in the past XX years (citation). Gang membership was once considered an issue only facing urban inner-city schools, however, gangs are now spread throughout suburban neighborhoods (Sharkey, 2011). Research has found that gang membership among students can significantly impact educational, social and emotional attainment (citation). In schools, minority children are the primary perpetrators of violence (Soriano & Soriano, 1994), including gang violence; however, this does not indicate that a student's ethnic and […]

Rise of School Shootings

School shootings have been on the rise and are more prevalent than ever before. "In less than 18 years, we have already seen more deaths related to school shootings than in the whole 20th century. One alarming trend is that the overwhelming majority of 21st-century shooters were adolescents, suggesting that it is now easier for them to access guns, and that they more frequently suffer from mental health issues or limited conflict resolution skills,". (Katsiyannis et al., 2018) This leaves […]

Reasons of Violence in Schools

Violence in schools can start from anything and studies show that public schools have the most violence compared to private schools. Safety in schools is very important all students should be able to walk in a school knowing that no one will be there to harm them but that will never happen violence is everywhere and that includes schools. Bullying has been around for a long time and this can cause fighting and sometime to the point of committing suicide […]

Does Multi Media have an Impact on Violence in Schools

Instagram, snapchat, facebook etc... are forms of social media, a place where young teens and children can go on to express themselves. At first, it was a positive and safe space where everybody can go onto and say/do whatever they wanted. Now problems such as cyberbullying, distraction, depression and even narcissism has arised out of technology. Social medias are a great platform to raise awareness and explore self expression but it is also a place where bullies can anonymously troll […]

Witnessing Violence in High School Predicts Student Impairment

The University of Montreal recently completed a longitudinal research study to determine if there is a correlation between witnessing school violence and future behavior impairment. They also looked at if the correlations depended on what kind of violence was observed. The researchers hypothesized that "witnessing violence will be associated with psychosocial impairment risk and will be proportional to the observed intensity." (Janosz et al., 2018) This study provided information about the outcomes of school violence which had not been looked […]

Horror of Violence in Schools

Violence in schools is really bad for students. In Central for Disease Control and Prevention it says "Acts of violence can disrupt the learning process and have a negative effect on students, the school itself, and the broader community." Even though it will be bad for the people that are doing violent things but the people around them also. So it is not good for any of us. Violence can happen in so many different ways. It can happen by […]

An Analysis of Violence in Public Schooling

The foundation of a child's life is their education and the experience they had. A child's life can be drastically altered by the events that take place during their schooling years. Many forms of violence are in public schools and are disrupting the lives of the students. With all of these incidents in the news, students are becoming desensitized to it all. From school fights, shootings, and teen suicides. Growing up and being a student is already a hard task, […]

Significance of School Uniform – why it should be Required

More often than we may know, people struggle to feel comfortable in clothing for the fear that they will be judged. That is why uniform is a perfect solution. It is a great way to avoid any issues associated with fashionable preferences among individuals. Students encounter these difficulties from when they pick out clothes to showing up at school with their choice of clothing. The use of uniforms increase the attention of students as they are not concerned with other’s […]

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How to Prevent School Violence Essay

Introduction, selected solutions to school violence.

Today no special mechanism is standard for preventing school violence due to diversity in social status, economical status, and location. Schools implement various measures to prevent violence such as warning signals, checklists and, policies for zero tolerance but the dangers still persists, because some of these measures end up exacerbating the issue.

Hypothetically, the school-based violence has a close link to poverty, which is the key factor for discontent and frustration and consequently the anger especially in developing nation. Other cases have a close link to the experiences and development. The domestic violence also has a close link to behavioural and learning problems.

During development, a child may feel the need for retaliation. Other possible sources may include discrimination, the societal background, the common school drug related problems, cultural imagery on the television and audio shows, materialism, competitiveness and lack of identity.

A good example of the school violence is the April 16, 2007 tragedy at Virginia Tech University, which remains a big sear for the hearts of those who were directly involved as well as those affected such as the victims’ families or friends. On that terrible day, the struggling loss of lives due to one disturbed young man make many people ask what made Cho to act in a beastly manner like he did, and likewise, what can be done to prevent such kind of massacre form happening again.

According to Hauser of “The New York Times” newspaper on the day of the tragedy, thirty-three people were involved in a mass murder at the university after one of the student: Cho went round the bend to a shooting rampage, in a close link to the reports made by federal law enforcement officials at the site. Many of the victims were students shot in classrooms and dorms.

In a close link to Feldman (2009), we can only stop inquiring ways of preventing such scenarios or why they occur if we realize that all the requirements for prevention are within reach. There is need for commitment over the facts and full transparency concerning logical understanding.

The universities need to be on the forefront in ensuring they are well equipped with required facilities to handle health related matters. This may include the student’s counselling centres, mental health programs or support groups, procedures for making referrals and, emergency psychiatric services to encourage students to seek and share feelings before they are out of hand.

There is an urgent need for the educators and parents to have the initiatives of pursuing this issue through a coordinated procedure. It is possible to implement the violence prevention programs based on the specific school setups through solicited funds and, the government or sponsors grants.

Secondly, it is promising to utilize the intelligent and well-planned campaigns to stop the violence issue and thus the need for proper and critical considerations over such crusades. This is an awareness program to fight violence especially among the teenagers.

Teachers need to consider the strategy of enhancing the responsibility aspects in the minds of the learners in the effort of making them understand the importance of stopping the violence at all costs. The learners should know that the act is illegal and immoral. Today the youth have tightly embraced the extremely dynamic and advancing technology.

This means that the “websites, television and radio programs, public service announcements are some vital aspects the campaigns against violence in schools ought to focus” (Prinstein and Dodge, 2008).

The government/sponsors also need to tighten use of technology as a teaching aid through ample sponsorship since the youth are today highly conversant with technology. Learning programs or curriculums should avail access to information on bullying prevention and support implementation of activities that support unity at school or community level.

Violence in schools is an act that erodes the learning atmosphere by impairing the teaching and learning processes. The act is very tactless to individual inner being or conscious and thus often lead to short-term and long-term consequences such as suicide and homicide as experienced at the Virginia Tech a couple of years back. For this reason, it is the responsibility of every person to work aggressively to reduce the wicked act.

According to Webb and Terr (2007), healthy and productive education process cannot occur in an environment full of fear. All students have a right to a safe learning environment without the worry of attendance for the fear of unfriendly treatments or worst still abusive acts.

The educators cannot fully depend on the government to solve all the cases or provide full protection. It would therefore be wise for everyone in the society to take initiative and commit to the issue. This can highly reduce or better still demise of the offense and the schools will thus be safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Feldman, R.S. (2009) Discovering the Life Span . (First Ed). Pearson/Prentice Hall Publishers.

Hauser, Christine. (2007). Virginia Tech Shooting . The New York Times. Web.

Prinstein M and Dodge K, (2008), Understanding Peer Influence in Children and Adolescents. Guilford Press publishers, P. 239.

Webb N and Terr L, (2007), Play Therapy with Children in Crisis: Individual, Group, and Family Treatment. Guilford Press publishers, P. 251.

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Home > DISSERTATIONS > AAI9923448

School violence: A case study of initiatives to combat violence at Riverside High School

Joseph Augustus Whittington , Fordham University

This dissertation presents a case study of violence in schools. It presents an examination of the types of violence that occurred at Riverside High School in Brooklyn, causes of violence, effects, initiatives that the school applied to combat violence, and the results of those initiatives. The review of literature presents the views of many educationists, psychologists, sociologists, and other professionals. The review also presents a brief history and overview of the problem of violence in schools as well as the theories of violence. From the perspectives of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the community, there are many who believe that violence in American schools has become one of the main concerns in the field of education during recent years. Most educationists, as well as members of the general public, view the problem of violence in schools as not merely a school problem, but as a larger problem of the community that is imported into the school because of various reasons. Most individuals agree that violence has no place in the schools, and that schools ought to formulate contingency plans to deal with student violence should it occur. But very little has been done because within the various studies, reports, and conferences that had been undertaken, not much had been done in the direction of reliably discovering and documenting the causes of violence in the schools. There are a few studies that have shown that there are steps that schools can take to establish and maintain control of violence in schools. At Riverside High School, the first step was the establishment of a Restructuring Committee that was composed of students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the community and who desired to work toward charting a new direction for the school. The committee first undertook an indepth and comprehensive evaluation of the programs and events that had been taking place at the school with the view of effecting an overall plan for school discipline and safety. This Restructuring Committee then adjusted a few existing programs and activities, discontinued several, and introduced several new initiatives. Local personnel and other resources from within the school and the community that were formerly underutilized, or were formerly not utilized, were now fully utilized. The students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the community who desired positive change collectively worked toward effecting positive changes, and they achieved positive changes. Further, the results of the study at Riverside High School reveal that although a school may be located in a poor urban neighborhood that has been constantly submerged in crime, unemployment, prostitution, and various drug subcultures, and is plagued by violence, there are initiatives that can be successfully applied to combat violence. But such initiatives must be designed to satisfy the needs and maintain the interest of the community that would then become fused with the school, thereby forming the nucleus of sustained positive changes that will continuously maintain their interest while fulfilling their needs, as well as the needs of the school.

Subject Area

Educational administration|Educational sociology|Educational psychology|Criminology

Recommended Citation

Whittington, Joseph Augustus, "School violence: A case study of initiatives to combat violence at Riverside High School" (1997). ETD Collection for Fordham University . AAI9923448. https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI9923448

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50 Argumentative Essay Thesis Statement Examples

A thesis statement in an argumentative essay needs to present a point of view . The biggest mistake you can make is to provide a thesis statement that doesn’t demonstrate what your argument will be. So, your thesis statement should set a clear argument, perspective, or position in relation to a debate. Check out the examples below.

Thesis Statements for Argumentative Essays

1. mandatory school uniforms.

For: “School uniforms should be mandatory as they promote equality and reduce distractions, fostering a better learning environment.”

Against: “Mandatory school uniforms infringe on students’ freedom of expression and fail to address the root causes of bullying and social stratification.”

Read More: School Uniform Pros and Cons

2. School Should Start Later

For: “Schools should start later in the morning to align with adolescents’ natural sleep cycles, resulting in improved mental health, increased academic performance, and better overall student well-being.”

Against: “Starting school later in the morning disrupts family routines, poses logistical challenges for after-school activities and transportation, and fails to prepare students for the traditional workday schedule.”

Read More: School Should Start Later Arguments | School Should Start Earlier Arguments

3. College Athletes Should be Paid

For: “College athletes should be compensated for their contributions to the multi-billion dollar collegiate sports industry, as their commitment and efforts generate significant revenue and marketing value for their institutions.”

Against: “Paying college athletes undermines the spirit of amateurism in collegiate sports, complicates the primary focus on education, and poses significant financial and regulatory challenges for universities.”

Read More: Why College Athletes Should be Paid

4. Homework should be Banned

For: “Excessive homework can lead to student burnout, reduce family time, and is not always effective in enhancing learning.”

Against: “Homework is essential for reinforcing learning, fostering independent study skills, and preparing students for academic challenges.”

Read More: 21 Reasons Homework Should be Banned

5. Nature is More Important than Nurture

For: “Genetic predispositions play a more critical role in shaping an individual than environmental factors, highlighting the importance of nature in personal development.”

Against: “Environmental factors and upbringing have a more significant impact on an individual’s development than genetic factors, emphasizing the role of nurture.”

Read More: Nature vs Nurture

6. The American Dream is Unattainable

For: “The American Dream is an outdated and unachievable concept for many, masked by systemic inequalities and economic barriers.”

Against: “The American Dream is still a relevant and attainable goal, symbolizing hope, opportunity, and hard work in a land of limitless potential.”

Read More: Examples of the American Dream

7. Social Media is Good for Society

For: “Social media is a vital tool for modern communication, fostering global connectivity and democratizing information dissemination.”

Against: “Social media platforms contribute to mental health issues, spread misinformation, and erode quality face-to-face interactions.”

Read More: Social Media Pros and Cons

8. Globalization has been Bad for Society

For: “Globalization leads to the exploitation of developing countries, loss of cultural identity, and increased income inequality.”

Against: “Globalization is beneficial, driving economic growth, cultural exchange, and technological advancement on a global scale.”

Read More: Globalization Pros and Cons

9. Urbanization has been Good for Society

For: “Urbanization is a positive force for economic development and cultural diversity, offering improved opportunities and lifestyles.”

Against: “Rapid urbanization leads to environmental degradation, overpopulation, and heightened social inequalities.”

Read More: Urbanization Examples

10. Immigration is Good for Society

For: “Immigration enriches the social and economic fabric of the host country, bringing diversity and innovation.”

Against: “Uncontrolled immigration can strain public resources, disrupt local job markets, and lead to cultural clashes.”

Read More: Immigration Pros and Cons

11. Cultural Identity must be Preserved

For: “Maintaining cultural identity is essential to preserve historical heritage and promote diversity in a globalized world.”

Against: “Excessive emphasis on cultural identity can lead to isolationism and hinder integration and mutual understanding in multicultural societies.”

Read More: Cultural Identity Examples

12. Technology is Essential for Social Progress

For: “The advancement of technology is crucial for societal progress, improving efficiency, healthcare, and global communication.”

Against: “Over-dependence on technology leads to privacy concerns, job displacement, and a disconnection from the natural world.”

13. Capitalism is the Best Economic System

For: “Capitalism drives innovation, economic growth, and personal freedom, outperforming socialist systems in efficiency and prosperity.”

Against: “Capitalism creates vast inequalities and exploits workers and the environment, necessitating a shift towards socialist principles for a fairer society.”

14. Socialism is the Best Economic System

For: “Socialism promotes social welfare and equality, ensuring basic needs are met for all citizens, unlike the inequalities perpetuated by capitalism.”

Against: “Socialism stifles individual initiative and economic growth, often leading to governmental overreach and inefficiency.”

Read More: Socialism Pros and Cons

15. Pseudoscience has no Value to Society

For: “Pseudoscience is harmful as it misleads people, often resulting in health risks and the rejection of scientifically proven facts.”

Against: “Pseudoscience, while not scientifically validated, can offer alternative perspectives and comfort to individuals where mainstream science has limitations.”

Read More: Pseudoscience Examples

16. Free Will is Real

For: “Individuals possess free will, enabling them to make autonomous choices that shape their lives and moral character, independent of genetic or environmental determinism.”

Against: “The concept of free will is an illusion, with human behavior being the result of genetic and environmental influences beyond personal control.”

Read More: Free Will Examples

17. Gender Roles are Outdated

For: “Rigid gender roles are outdated and limit individual freedom, perpetuating inequality and stereotyping.”

Against: “Traditional gender roles provide structure and clarity to societal functions and personal relationships.”

Read More: Gender Roles Examples

18. Work-Life Ballance is Essential for a Good Life

For: “Achieving a work-life balance is essential for mental health, productivity, and personal fulfillment.”

Against: “The pursuit of work-life balance can lead to decreased professional ambition and economic growth, particularly in highly competitive industries.”

Read More: Work-Life Balance Examples

19. Universal Healthcare

For: “Universal healthcare is a fundamental human right, ensuring equitable access to medical services for all individuals.”

Against: “Universal healthcare can be inefficient and costly, potentially leading to lower quality of care and longer wait times.”

Read More: Universal Healthcare Pros and Cons

20. Raising the Minimum Wage

For: “Raising the minimum wage is necessary to provide a living wage, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth.”

Against: “Increasing the minimum wage can lead to higher unemployment and negatively impact small businesses.”

Read More: Raising the Minimum Wage Pros and Cons

21. Charter Schools are Better than Public Schools

For: “Charter schools provide valuable alternatives to traditional public schools, often offering innovative educational approaches and higher standards.”

Against: “Charter schools can drain resources from public schools and lack the same level of accountability and inclusivity.”

Read More: Charter Schools vs Public Schools

22. The Internet has had a Net Positive Effect

For: “The internet is a transformative tool for education, communication, and business, making information more accessible than ever before.”

Against: “The internet can be a platform for misinformation, privacy breaches, and unhealthy social comparison, negatively impacting society.”

Read Also: Pros and Cons of the Internet

23. Affirmative Action is Fair and Just

For: “Affirmative action is necessary to correct historical injustices and promote diversity in education and the workplace.”

Against: “Affirmative action can lead to reverse discrimination and undermine meritocracy, potentially harming those it aims to help.”

Read More: Pros and Cons of Affirmative Action

24. Soft Skills are the Most Important Workforce Skills

For: “Soft skills like communication and empathy are crucial in the modern workforce, contributing to a collaborative and adaptable work environment.”

Against: “Overemphasis on soft skills can neglect technical proficiency and practical skills that are essential in many professional fields.”

Read More: Examples of Soft Skills

25. Freedom of the Press has gone Too Far

For: “Unregulated freedom of the press can lead to the spread of misinformation and biased reporting, influencing public opinion unfairly.”

Against: “Freedom of the press is essential for a democratic society, ensuring transparency and accountability in governance.”

Read More: Free Press Examples

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons

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Schools try to balance freedom of speech and security during student protests

Sequoia Carrillo

Schools weigh freedom of speech and safety risks as nationwide protests pop up on college campuses over the Israel-Hamas conflict.

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Anti-Israel protesters take over Columbia University academic building in latest campus chaos

A huge mob of masked anti-Israel protesters broke into an academic building at Columbia University and seized it early Tuesday – hours after the school finally began suspending students who refused to vacate the tent encampment that brought campus life to a halt.

Dozens stormed into Hamilton Hall and sealed themselves in shortly before 1 a.m. – with some using metal barricades, chairs and tables to block others from getting inside, footage posted on social media shows.    

One shocking video captured a violent, hammer-wielding demonstrator smashing two glass windows of a door and placing what appeared to be a bike lock around the door’s handles. 

Others covered security cameras inside the building with tape and black trash bags, according to the student-led Columbia Daily Spectator.

As of 6:30 a.m., the rogue protesters were still occupying the South Lawn building, which has been the scene of the school’s anti-Israel encampment for over a week, the paper reported.  

Students at Columbia University have occupied Hamilton hall. Today the university president explicitly said to students the school would not be divesting and threatened to suspend students protesting. The last time this building was taken over by student protesters was in 1968 pic.twitter.com/IhoWVYlocB

אירוע מטורף בדקות האלה באוניברסיטת קולומביה: פרו פלסטינים מנפצים שמשות ומשתלטים על בניין המילטון בקמפוס.

אמרתי בשידורים בשבוע האחרון שהאירוע יצא משליטה. צפו ותבינו למה התכוונתי.

השעה 1:30 בלילה במנהטן. מתרחשת כאן נקודת מפנה. pic.twitter.com/6DYLKpLzDf

Meanwhile, hundreds more swarmed outside the campus building, with some linking arms to form a human chain blocking the entrance.

“Hey hey, ho ho, the occupation has got to go,” protesters outside the building could be heard chanting during the wild scenes,  according to footage  posted to X by an independent news blog.

“We will not leave until Columbia meets every one of our demands,” others raged.

When the group initially barged into the building in the early hours, several campus facilities workers were still inside. The protesters removed some of the barricades to let them out.

One of the workers yelled, “They held me hostage” as he left the building and smacked somebody’s camera, the student newspaper reported.

. @Columbia University — Organized rioters dressed in black bloc broke and entered into a campus building in Manhattan. Hamilton Hall had had been smashed up and occupied by masked far-left extremists saying they're doing it for Palestine. pic.twitter.com/ffBXmPCKxa

Four protesters wearing masks over their heads then lowered a banner reading “Hind’s Hall” from a window overlooking the cheering crowd.

“An autonomous group reclaimed Hind’s Hall, previously known as ‘Hamilton Hall,’ in honor of  Hind Rajab , a martyr murdered at the hands of the genocidal Israeli state at the age of six years old,” CU Apartheid Divest, an student-led anti-Israel group, posted on X.

Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl,  was killed in Gaza  alongside the two paramedics from the Palestine Red Crescent Society who tried to rescue her in January when the car she was in was allegedly struck by Israeli gunfire.

The ambulance was bombed as it was “just meters” from reaching the vehicle, the Red Crescent said in a statement at the time. The little girl’s body was found 12 days later in the car riddled with bullet holes.

After the banner was unraveled, the group at Columbia then broke out into chants of “Free Palestine,” “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “Columbia, you will see – Palestine is almost free.”

Columbia officials haven’t publicly addressed the latest wave of violence.  

The wild escalation erupted nearly 12 hours after hundreds of Columbia students defied the Ivy League’s 2 p.m. ultimatum to vacate their sprawling tent encampment.

That followed the deadline repeatedly being pushed back at the school, which has already been forced to hold all classes virtually for the rest of the semester because of the safety fears.

The school’s embattled president Minouche Shafik had warned students would be suspended if they didn’t clear out – but it still took several hours past deadline for the punishments to be doled out.

“We have begun suspending students as part of this next phase of our efforts to ensure safety on our campus,” school Vice President of Public Affairs Ben Chang said at a 5.30 p.m. press conference.

Still, hordes of defiant and pampered protesters – including some who were munching protein bars and beating tambourines — dug their heels in by refusing to vacate.  

NYPD officers stationed nearby were not called in to clear them.

The dramatic escalation at Columbia’s campus comes as universities across the US are grappling with how to clear out similar encampments.

Unlike at Columbia, dozens of people were cuffed and hauled away by cops Monday during protests at universities in Texas, Utah and Virginia.

300 protesters arrested at Columbia University and City College of New York

• Hundreds of arrests have been made at Columbia University and the City College of New York.
• Pro-Palestinian protesters had barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall, a main campus building at Columbia.
• The arrests were confirmed by an NYPD official who took part in a press conference.

Three hundred people have been arrested at protests at Columbia and City College of New York, police said.

Columbia has been rocked by protests for days over Israel's war on Gaza following Hamas' October 7 terror attack on Israel.

While students and faculty have been urged not to go onto campus, the school's president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, said that "a working group of Deans, university administrators, and faculty members will try to bring this crisis to a resolution."

NYPD officials took part in a press conference on Wednesday when they confirmed the number of arrests.

How it started

The protests at Columbia began on Wednesday, April 17, which coincided with Shafik testifying before Congress about antisemitism on campus .

A coalition of student groups — Columbia University Apartheid Divest, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace — took part in setting up "Gaza Solidarity Encampments" in the center of campus.

One of the goals of the protest was to convince the university to divest all its "finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine," according to Columbia University Apartheid Divest's website .

Police were called in

On Thursday, April 18, Shafik authorized the New York Police Department to clear the encampment. "Attempts to resolve the situation were rejected by the students involved. As a result, NYPD officers are now on campus and the process of clearing the encampment is underway," she said in a statement.

This resulted in the arrest of more than 100 people on suspicion of criminal trespass, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a news conference.

Related stories

Protests have continued since then.

President Joe Biden weighed in

Chabad at Columbia, a group that supports Jewish students, released a letter on social media that said Jewish students were targeted with offensive rhetoric during the protests.

President Joe Biden also called out antisemitism on campus in his Passover statement in April.

"We've seen harassment and calls for violence against Jews. This blatant Antisemitism is reprehensible and dangerous — and it has absolutely no place on college campuses, or anywhere in our country," he said.

Columbia student organizations participating in the protests have insisted that their protests are peaceful.

One student group, Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine, said in a statement on X last month that they are frustrated by the attention paid to "inflammatory individuals who do not represent us."

"We firmly reject any form of hate or bigotry and stand against non-students attempting to disrupt our solidarity," the statement said.

On Monday, Shafik released a statement that said the university would not "divest from Israel." The university also ordered protesters to leave their encampment by 2 p.m. on Monday and threatened students who defied the order with suspension.

Protesters took over the Hamilton Hall

In the early hours of Tuesday morning, dozens of protesters barricaded themselves in Hamilton Hall, one of the main buildings on the Manhattan campus. They used metal gates, tables, and chairs as barricades and zip-tied the doors shut.

The protesters maintained their demands of "divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty," Columbia University Apartheid Divest said in a press release on X.

NYPD in riot gear were called to clear the protesters

On Tuesday evening, NYPD officers in riot gear entered Hamilton Hall, where protesters had been camping out for around 20 hours.

According to CNN , the NYPD used loud distraction devices, "flash-bang grenades" to disperse the protesters who had barricaded themselves in the building.

Shafik released a letter to the NYPD on Tuesday, which requested that police remain on the campus until May 17, two days after the graduation ceremony.

"The takeover of Hamilton Hall and the continued encampments raise serious safety concerns for the individuals involved and the entire community," the letter read.

The protests have spread to other campuses across the country. In Los Angeles, police were called to the UCLA campus early Wednesday after violence broke out when counter-protesters showed up to tear down barricades at the pro-Palestinian encampment, the LA Times reported.

Watch: Black Lives Matter wins historic police brutality lawsuit over George Floyd protests; NYPD to pay $13 million

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College protests updates: NYPD sergeant accidentally discharged gun at Columbia

The discharge happened on April 30 as police cleared Hamilton Hall.

Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests .

Latest headlines:

• New York University, New School explain decision to remove, arrest students
• 56 people arrested at New School, NYU
• USC says arrested student protesters will be referred to 'disciplinary process'
• Police begin arresting UCLA protesters
• UCLA issues evacuation order as police confront protesters

UCLA classes to resume on Monday

The University of California Los Angeles announced classes are "expected to resume in full on Monday," in an update Friday evening.

"Campus operations will be limited through the weekend, and are expected to resume in full on Monday. Classes continue remote through the weekend. Work, events and research activities are encouraged to remain remote or be rescheduled wherever possible during that period," UCLA said in a statement.

A law enforcement presence will continue "to be stationed around campus to help promote safety," the university said.

NYU president explains use of NYPD to end encampment

Linda G. Mills, the president of NYU, posted a statement Friday evening explaining why the school called in the NYPD to break up an encampment on the Greene St. Walkway earlier in the day.

Mills said 14 people who refused orders to leave the area were arrested and the incident was non-violent.

The president said that the police were called in for numerous reasons, including noise complaints from nearby residents and businesses, safety concerns over the crowds of supporters and counter-protesters and escalating threats.

"The encampment had become increasingly untenable for the NYU community and the neighborhood we inhabit," she said.

Mills said three senior administrators spoke with the protesters over the weekend to come to an agreement over shutting down the encampment.

The president said things escalated on Wednesday when a group of people from a May Day march came to the walkway and got into altercations.

The May Day incident and other issues, including threats leveled at NYU administrators, led the school to call the NYPD, according to Mills.

"The university’s senior leadership and I were compelled to conclude that we could not tolerate the risk of violence any longer and that we could not responsibly or in good conscience wait until something drastically worse were to happen in order to act. We needed to bring this to a close," she said.

University of Mississippi protest confrontation draws scrutiny

Footage from the University of Mississippi campus captures intense confrontations between pro-Palestinian protesters and counter-protesters.

The dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on the campus to call for divestment from military operations in Gaza and for the university to condemn what they call "genocide."

Footage shows a much larger counter-protest surrounding the students, with many donning American flags.

Protesters reported being subject to racism and violent threats and having food thrown at them by counter-protesters.

In one video, a Black protester can be seen recording and speaking to counter-protesters, moving past the protective barricades around pro-Palestinian protesters.

Law enforcement officers can be seen urging her to walk back as counter-demonstrators taunt her, including on student making a monkey impersonation and others chanting "lock her up," according to the Stacey Spiehler, who took the video.

Law enforcement also urged counter-protesters to stand back.

Jacob Batte, Ole Miss’ director of news and media relations, told ABC News they "cannot comment specifically about that video," but that "statements were made at the demonstration on our campus Thursday that were offensive and inappropriate."

The university said it is looking into reports about specific actions and "any actions that violate university policy will be met with appropriate action."

In a statement following the confrontations, protesters said they were met with "blind reactionism that had little to do with the genocide we were protesting as well as our demands."

-ABC News' Chris Looft and Kiara Alfonseca

NYPD sergeant accidentally discharged gun during Columbia building operation

An officer accidentally discharged his gun as the New York Police Department worked to clear Hamilton Hall -- a building that had been occupied by Columbia University students on April 30, Assistant Chief Carlos Valdez, the commanding officer of the NYPD Emergency Service Unit, said Friday.

During the operation, a sergeant unintentionally discharged his firearm while attempting to gain access to an office.

"The sergeant was transitioning his firearm to his non-dominant hand to unlock the office door from the inside when the discharge occurred," Valdez said.

There were no injuries and the bullet was contained within the vacant office. Valdes said that at no point were police officers, members of the public or protesters in danger.

"This was purely unintentional," he said.

Columbia begins suspending students who refuse to leave encampment

A representative from Columbia University said the school began suspending students who have defied the 2 p.m. deadline to leave the encampment.

Ben Chang, the vice president of the office of public affairs, did not say how many people would be suspended but said those students would not be able to attend classes or graduate.

"Students who agree to leave and sign a form committed to abide by university policies will be allowed to complete the semester," he said.

The school's campus is still closed to anyone who doesn't have a student ID.

Chang reiterated that the negotiations with the groups protesting were being done in good faith until discussions broke down.

"We were hopeful and were disappointed when the student protesters could not reach a consensus in the discussion," he said.

-ABC News' Darren Reynolds

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