Crown Prince Haakon’s University at the forefront

Earlier this week, among others, Dagbladet wrote about the demonstrations at several of the USA’s prestigious universities.

Students have set up camps and organized demonstrations to show support for Gaza in the war against Israel, and in several places the demonstrations have ended in violent clashes.

The demonstrations escalate: – Shame on you

The Palestine protesters are demanding that the recognized universities actively call for a cease-fire in Gaza, and cut ties and withdraw investments in companies linked to Israel.

Several hundred students have been arrested across the United States.

At the popular school Berkeley in California, several students have set up tents outside Sproul Hall, in solidarity with students at other universities in the country.

– We are standing here today because we are inspired by the students at Columbia who are considered the heart of the student movement, says law student Malak Afaneh to ABC 7.

Royal visit

Berkeley is regarded as one of America’s prestigious universities, and a number of big stars have previously studied there. Crown Prince Haakon (50) was also a student at the University of California, Berkeley, when he obtained a bachelor’s degree in political science between 1996 and 1999.

Deleted underwear video: – Sorry

According to the royal house’s website, last week the crown prince met representatives from Berkeley’s management, academic staff and the Norwegian students who study at the school today.

– It is fantastic to be back at Berkeley, where I spent three important years of my life. I installed my first modem and got an e-mail address – so it’s been a while, the crown prince said, among other things, during the visit.

– It was a great privilege to study here at one of the world’s leading universities, and I feel something of the same atmosphere here today, he continued.

The demonstrations flared up only shortly after the Norwegian heir to the throne visited the university last week.

Dagbladet has been in contact with Guri Varpe, communications manager at the Castle, who states that they have no comment on the case.

Claim

The students demonstrating have three main demands:

First, they want UC Berkeley to end what they call the university’s “silence around the genocide in Gaza.” They also call on the university to distance itself from companies involved in the Israel-Hamas war, and finally they call for better protections for Palestinian, Arab and Muslim students.

Breeds: – Cowardly and shameful

Ever since the flare-up of the war after October 7, prestigious universities such as Columbia, Stanford and Berkeley have faced enormous pressure to curtail pro-Palestinian protests and camps that accuse Israel of genocide and demand a ceasefire.

The president of Berkeley said last month that a group had been created to look at the school’s rules for protests, after students blocked entrances, writes the LA Times.

Earlier this week, the assistant principal at the school, Dan Magulof, said that Berkeley will take the necessary steps to ensure that the students’ schooling is not affected.

This is what the president said

President Joe Biden (81) has responded to the demonstrations with sharp criticism aimed at the students.

On Monday evening Norwegian time, the president held a press conference in Northern Virginia. There he made a statement about the unrest that characterizes the prestigious universities.

The 81-year-old said he condemns what he refers to as “anti-Semitic protests”.

– That is why I have started a program to deal with it. I also condemn those who do not understand what is going on with the Palestinians, he said.

Before he could finish his statement, he was interrupted by a reporter on the spot, according to CBS.