Columbia clash echoes 1968 police-protester violence

+ the secularization of the "apocalypse' US Edition - Today's top story: Columbia University protests look increasingly like those in 1968 as police storm campuses nationwide [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 May 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Mexico becomes US abortion refuge]( - [Beethoven’s Ninth turns 200]( - [Trump immunity hearing was no surprise]( Lead story When I attended Columbia University as a journalism fellow about a decade ago, I signed up for text alerts regarding police activity on campus. Even though I’ve tried repeatedly to unsubscribe, I still get them. Usually, I just ignore and hit “delete.” But I couldn’t do that with the alert that came at 3:30 a.m. on April 30. “Major protest activity on Morningside campus in and around Hamilton Hall,” it read. “Avoid vicinity if possible.” Only a few hours earlier, before protesters had taken over the hall, I received the first draft of a story I commissioned from Stefan M. Bradley, a history professor at Amherst University and author of a book that deals with the demonstrations that took place at Columbia in 1968 during the Vietnam War. In the story, Bradley noted that the protests at Columbia this spring had been largely peaceful. That changed when students supporting the Palestinian cause took over Hamilton Hall, where they remained until police arrived in riot gear 20 hours later to remove them. The Hamilton Hall takeover changed the calculus of Columbia administrators – who called in the police – but also of Bradley, who began to see [increasing similarities with the protests that rocked the campus]( back in 1968, particularly in terms of the growing risk of violence amid clashes with the police. “The deployment of police to break up demonstrations may end disruptions in the short term,” he writes in today’s lead story, “but it may also end up radicalizing moderate students who see their friends get arrested or injured.” In a separate article, John J. Sloan, a scholar of crime and police on college campuses, explains [why universities turn to police to end student protests]( – despite the risks of doing so. [ [Miss us on Sundays? Get a selection of our best and most popular stories (or try our other weekly emails).]( ] Jamaal Abdul-Alim Education Editor The police have regularly been called in to squelch student protests over the past century. Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images [Columbia University protests look increasingly like those in 1968 as police storm campuses nationwide]( Stefan M. Bradley, Amherst College An expert on the Columbia University protests of 1968 draws parallels between protests then and the ones taking place there in 2024. Ethics + Religion - [How ‘apocalypse’ became a secular as well as religious idea]( Erik Bleich, Middlebury; Christopher Star, Middlebury Events that the media describe as ‘apocalyptic’ reflect changing anxieties about the future. Arts + Culture - [Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony at 200: Revolutionary work of art has spawned two centuries of joy, goodwill and propaganda]( Ted Olson, East Tennessee State University It stands as the crowning achievement of Western classical music. Politics + Society - [Why universities turn to the police to end student protests − and why that can spiral out of control]( John J. Sloan III, University of Alabama at Birmingham While most colleges and universities have their own police units, some schools, like Columbia University, have only private security − and then can call in outside police when they feel it is needed. - [What the Supreme Court is doing right in considering Trump’s immunity case]( Claire B. Wofford, College of Charleston Pundits decried the Supreme Court justices for not focusing on Donald Trump’s conduct when they heard oral arguments in Trump’s immunity case. But a legal scholar says they were just doing their job. Science + Technology - [Brain cancer in children is notoriously hard to treat – a new mRNA cancer vaccine triggers an attack from within]( Christina von Roemeling, University of Florida; John Ligon, University of Florida Cancer vaccines have gained much interest among scientists but face a number of hurdles. A new mRNA vaccine for glioma offers a step forward in training the immune system to fight cancer. - [Boeing’s Starliner is about to launch − if successful, the test represents an important milestone for commercial spaceflight]( Wendy Whitman Cobb, Air University The Starliner has had delays and issues. The May 2024 launch will put its capacity to carry crew to the International Space Station to the test. Health + Medicine - [Healthy teeth are wondrous and priceless – a dentist explains why and how best to protect them]( Samer Zaky, University of Pittsburgh The durability and longevity of teeth lie in the complex interplay between six different tissues, all of which play an intricate role in tooth formation and health. - [Mexico emerges as a destination for Americans seeking reproductive health services – not for the first time]( Alejandra Marquez Guajardo, Michigan State University In Mexico, more states are legalizing abortion at the same time US states like Florida are imposing more restrictions. Environment + Energy - [Power outages linked to heat and storms are rising, and low-income communities are most at risk, as a new NYC study shows]( Nina Flores, Columbia University; Joan A. Casey, University of Washington Practices such as redlining left marginalized groups in more disaster-prone areas with poorer quality infrastructure − and more likely to experience prolonged power outages. Trending on site - [Sourdough under the microscope reveals microbes cultivated over generations]( - [Why are some people faster than others? 2 exercise scientists explain the secrets of running speed]( - [The biblical character who goes ‘down the rabbit hole’ into an alternate reality − just like Alice in Wonderland]( Today's graphic 📈 [The Prison Policy Initiative's count of prison populations each year, from state and federal data, show a quick rise in incarceration numbers between the late 1970s and early 2000s.]( From the story, [The US is one of the least trade-oriented countries in the world – despite laying the groundwork for today’s globalized system]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [Giving Today]( [New!] • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. [Donate now to support research-based journalism]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](