Israel-Gaza war: Malaysian students in US face prejudice, name-calling as protests sweep university campuses
- Students urged to prioritise safety and avoid the risk of suspension from their schools amid harassment of those who wear hijab or keffiyeh
- ‘It does scare me when I walk to campus from my apartment,’ a Muslim student said
Malaysian students in universities in the United States are facing disruption to their campus lives with the eruption of pro-Palestinian protests.
Some have even been harassed, with many having names called.
A graduate student at Columbia University, New York, who does not wish to be named, said the escalating situation seemed hard to avoid, especially in her campus where the first protest broke out.
“The encampment [at my university] started around a week ago. I know two friends who were arrested,” she said, sharing her first-hand account of being surrounded by the turmoil.
“The protests have definitely [had] a huge impact on how my classes are conducted.
“The university has announced that all students are now allowed to attend classes virtually as the campus has heavy NYPD (New York Police Department) presence which intimidates students.
“A lot of final [sit-down] exams have also been converted into take-home finals,” said the student, who has been observing the protests and taken photos as part of her photojournalism portfolio.