This paper critiques the responses of American universities to student-led protests against the ongoing Gaza conflict, focusing on the events at Columbia University in April 2024. Despite their stated commitment to critical thinking and civic engagement, universities often suppress dissent, revealing a preference for maintaining ideological conformity aligned with capitalist interests. By labeling student activists as "outside agitators" and prioritizing donor interests over student welfare, these institutions betray their claimed values of intellectual freedom and public accountability. The paper exposes the contradictions in university policies, questioning their role as true bastions of critical inquiry and social justice.
