Gripping drama played out at Vanderbilt University during a dramatic(?) protest. The good news: it appears that for the first time some pampered students just had a teachable moment, as they began learning how “A great Idea” is not the same as a great plan
At Vanderbilt University a clutch of students rose up to protest a recent decision by the administration regarding the Israel-Hamas war. (That these kids feel the faculty can hold sway in the Middle East is the first sign they need to stay in school.) But, as we have seen constantly from our university system, the kids have a need to be aggrieved. Life is not easy for those whose parents are dropping tens of thousands for a private university annually to coddle their offspring and prepare them for a life of participation trophies.
At issue was the decision to strike an amendment in the student constitution to pull back student funds that may invest in companies that support Israel. What these upstart Abbie Hoffman’s failed to take into account is how this move violated state and federal laws against Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions involving that nation. As we will see, this is not the only case of a lack of forethought by these gripers.
As a result of the school’s move a few dozen students forced their way into the administration building and occupied the chancellor’s office – because they had learned about sit-ins during one of their classes, and they were intent to speak truth to power, or some such thing. Their parents can take comfort as they cut that next semester check that their progeny managed to at least learn one thing; protesting is hard!
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After some hours of them copping a squat, the police were called out and the building was locked down, and then a dawning came over these ill-planned protests. It turns out, when you break the law there could be legal ramifications. If they left their confines suddenly the kids were aware that they were not being granted access to food that they failed to bring with them, and that leaving to go to the bathroom will expose them to the police and lead to arrest.
UPDATE: The Vanderbilt administration is reportedly blocking food and bathroom access, according to the protestors.
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) March 27, 2024
Protestors are peeing in bottles behind their banners. https://t.co/U08EzaYLG2 pic.twitter.com/IG9GqvnKtA
That’s, like, so not fair!
Of course, you cannot have a protest these days without a severe dose of obliviousness, and these Occupy Cafeteria activists delivered. What better way to win people over to your side than to have these white cul-de-sac contrarians insulting black police officers for not joining their cause! You can reasonably expect a list of demands emanating from these trust fund resistors to read: 1. Grant us the password(s) to the WiFi 2. Send in locally-sourced non-GMO vegan sandwiches 3. No fewer than three emotional support dogs to ease the anxiety.
After some hours food was in fact brought in — for the police. Panera Bread sandwiches were delivered to the cops, as Cody, and Tabitha, and the rest of the resistance fighters saw their blood sugar levels, like, totally crash. The student newspaper described this as leading to “inhumane conditions”. Then panic set in.
Once it was realized that the authorities were not coddling these cranks and catering to their needs they began to lash out and shriek. Students outside were battling with administrators (if “battle” is the proper term for wailing at school leaders over the lack of bowing down to post-teen insurgents still wearing Covid masks in the faculty building.) One called 911 and tried to explain to the dispatcher that an ambulance was needed immediately – because one woman inside was scared to change her tampon.
UPDATE: some of the students seem to be panicking.
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) March 27, 2024
They called 9-1-1 because they’re worried one of them could go into toxic shock.
They’re also worried she’ll be arrested if she leaves the building. https://t.co/U08EzaYLG2 pic.twitter.com/NrXAQvuxeu
In the end, we saw some change taking place. For once we have a school not bending the knee to the demonstrators on campus, as seven people were arrested, and over a dozen of the students were suspended. The good news is if these kids are expelled the school will have purged an intransigent element – and their parents will save a significant sum.
But we as a nation have been left behind a touchstone moment. Students outside the administration building lent their support for the protestors, staring down the authorities as they delivered a chant that will come to rest historically with other seminal motivational movements. It remains to be seen if protest movement anthems such as “War - What Is It Good For?”, and “Blowin’ In The Wind” will be joined by the emotional entreaty – “Let Them Pee!!!”
Students outside chanted, “Let them pee! Let them eat!” pic.twitter.com/hrYaCu3VMs
— Steve McGuire (@sfmcguire79) March 27, 2024
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