Grand Canyon Times

Pro-Hamas protests at Arizona State University (ASU) have spurred a series of bills aimed at reforming public higher education.

ASU finds itself at the center of the debate over free speech and campus policy following a series of rallies held by students advocating for the elimination of Israel.

Amid a surge of pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses nationwide, Arizona State University saw 72 arrests in late April following a demonstration related to the conflict in Gaza. 

The university, prohibiting encampments on its property, took action when demonstrators refused to disperse, resulting in charges of criminal trespassing for those arrested, including 15 students. 

ASU suspended student protesters who will face the repercussions of their actions in a recent pro-Palestinian protest.

University President Michael Crow noted he was happy with how law enforcement performed in dispelling the illegal encampment.  

“I thought that it was actually executed very well by the ASU police and the state police that helped us out,” Crow told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show.  “Again, there were no weapons that were used … it came out about as well as could be expected given the complication of the nature of the demonstration.”

ASU deemed the April 26-27 protest illegal due to an encampment. 

“The April 26 encampment was more than a protest,” ASU said in a statement. “There were multiple violations of university or ABOR policy including tents, overnight presence, creating a university disturbance and being in a reservable space that wasn’t reserved by ASU students, per policy. The unlawful assembly remained well past the 11 p.m. cutoff time established by policy.ASU’s first priority is to create a safe and secure environment for all those on campus. This includes addressing the safety of individuals who come to campus to speak, listen, protest and counter-protest.” 

“After all-day discussions about the need to remove the encampment, protestors— most of whom were not students— were told at least 20 times over loudspeakers that the encampment was an unlawful assembly and they had to disperse or face arrest. People were also warned throughout the day of the potential legal, student conduct code and academic consequences.”

A May 5 rally at ASU supported Israeli and Jewish students amidst a backdrop of contrasting events, including pro-Palestinian protests and graduation festivities. 

The first rally, which took place in October, saw students expressing solidarity with Palestine and calling for actions against Israel. At the time, ASU officials refrained from publicly addressing the event or taking any disciplinary actions against the participating students.



Following the initial protests, State Sen. Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) sought to defund the institution and provide more oversight to universities. Kern did not respond to requests for comment from the Grand Canyon Times. 


This is in contrast to earlier this year, when Kern introduced a series of bills aimed at what he described as ensuring transparency and protecting free speech within Arizona's higher education institutions.
Senate Bill 1304, the centerpiece of Kern's legislative package, proposes the adoption and enforcement of a "free expression policy" by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR), explicitly affirming the rights of students and faculty to assemble and express their views without fear of penalty.

 

“This bill is to rein that in, ensure ABOR does their job, ensure the universities protect all students and share the students’ rights to free speech, ensure that professors are not shut down or kicked out if they dare (to) open their conservative views,” Kern said in a hearing on the legislation. 

Violators of this policy could face disciplinary actions, including suspension, expulsion or termination of employment.
Additionally, the bill mandates that ABOR must prominently display the details of this policy on its websites for the awareness of all stakeholders.

Senate Bill 1304 includes a provision mandating all public universities governed by ABOR to ensure that each classroom displays an authentic U.S. flag and Constitution, reinforcing symbols of American identity.

Another bill, Senate Bill 1305, seeks to enhance transparency by requiring universities to make course names, syllabi, professor names, and professional backgrounds publicly available before each academic term. Additionally, university departments would be mandated to disclose various enrollment statistics and faculty meeting minutes, excluding personnel matters.

Senate Bill 1306 underscores Kern's belief that ABOR has been delegating its responsibilities to university leaders. The bill emphasizes that by assigning tasks to individual universities, ABOR does not absolve itself of its obligations.

Supporters argue the measures are necessary to ensure accountability and protect free speech on university campuses.

"Free speech is free speech,” Kern, R-Glendale, said of the issue in November. “We are not trying … to shut down the left's ability to protest, but they are absolutely trying to shut us down.”

More recently the same students responsible for the October protests spearheaded a Starbucks boycott.
In late March, AZ Central reported students staged a protest aimed at the on-campus Starbucks in support of Palestine.

One of the groups attending the Starbucks protest was MECHA de ASU, which was suspended by ASU in February for a post on social media calling for the deaths of certain groups. 



Following the "Day of Resistance Rally for Palestine,” ASU officials did not publicly address or take disciplinary actions against the students involved. The university’s Academic Affairs Manual prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on protected status, including religion and national origin. 


According to a review of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) non-profit 990 filings by Grand Canyon Times, ASU has received at least $3 million from left-wing political activist George Soros since 2020. 

The Soros grants totaling $3,038.339 were directed to the Arizona State University Foundation for a New American University. In 2020, Soros included ASU in his “Global Network to Transform Higher Education,” alongside the Central European University (CEU) and Bard College. At least three of Soros grants were awarded in 2022, coinciding with the university’s recorded contributions of $331 million.

Soros, a Democratic mega-donor, has significantly influenced progressive causes.

He directed his wealth toward reshaping the American justice system, spending over $17 million on local district attorney races in support of left-wing candidates.

Soros’ primary organizations, the Open Society Foundations and the Foundation to Promote Open Society, have funded prominent left-progressive advocacy groups.

Additionally, Soros contributed to Palestinian protests and supported left-wing initiatives in Texas and the Biden Victory Fund.