Screenshots / X, Steve McGuire, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Vanderbilt University officials took decisive action by suspending seven students who staged a protest inside the school chancellor’s office on Tuesday.

The students were reportedly demonstrating against the cancellation of a boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) referendum. Steve McGuire, an employee for the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), and local news outlet ABC 33/40 corroborated the students' motives.

The BDS movement, the outlets explained, aims to pressure Israel into complying with international law by boycotting Israeli-linked businesses.

Video footage shared by McGuire on Twitter depicted the students forcefully entering the building, posing a threat to faculty members.

Law enforcement swiftly intervened, resulting in the arrest of four students for trespassing and another for assaulting a police officer. The protesters' behavior during the demonstration was characterized as “insanely unreasonable,” involving disruptive tactics such as shrieking, chanting, and confronting faculty and administrators.

One particularly bizarre incident involved a group of students calling 911, claiming their friend faced a medical emergency due to a lack of tampons. Despite the exaggerated claims, the 911 operator remained composed and rejected the alarmist narrative.

In another instance, a student confronted a faculty member in a tense exchange, demanding information about potential consequences if she left the building. The faculty member responded calmly, highlighting the university's measured approach to managing the situation.

Commenters online argue that the protesters were not seeking solutions but rather attempting to bully faculty members. However, observers praised Vanderbilt University's response, commending faculty members for their professionalism and adherence to protocol.

Despite personal reservations about higher education, some individuals expressed admiration for Vanderbilt's handling of the incident, suggesting that such practices should be the norm in academia. The university's ability to address disruptive behavior with a calm demeanor while still enforcing rules earned widespread acclaim.