GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College Assistant Professor of History Jay Donis, Ph.D. hosted the campus community and external speakers to join his students as he discussed the complicated nature of protests as part of his class Protests in American History on Friday.
Donis gave an overview of protesting in the United States, which included historical figures George Washington, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., to set the stage for what is happening on college campuses across the United States.
He followed that with a conversation led by three Youngstown State students who are members of Students for Justice in Palestine and included a Palestinian woman. A retired Methodist pastor who is also protesting Israel’s actions in Palestine spoke at the event.
A question and answer session with the audience followed the presentation and discussion.
Weeks of protests around the nation have ranged from peaceful demonstrations to tent encampments and building occupations and have included clashes with authorities. The protesters are calling on colleges and universities to stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support the war in Gaza. The protests have led to more than 2,300 arrests in the United States, according to the Associated Press.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.