Amidst all the cramming for finals, more than 100 University of Texas at Dallas students instead spent the day lining the front hall of the university's administration building to make their voices heard.
“As you know, they continue to ignore us, so we will move on to the next step until they meet our demands,” Fatima Turkaren said.
Mr. Turkaren is an official with Students for Justice in Palestine, which is urging the university to divest from companies it says provide weapons to Israel.
“This is our money that is going to the companies that are providing these weapons to Israel, and not only to Israel but to other countries around the world. So we don't want to be an accomplice. “I'm making that clear again,'' she said.
Tuesday's sit-in was one of several protests held on college campuses across the country, from the West Coast to the East.
At the University of California, Berkeley, protesters set up an encampment on campus.
At New York University, protesters were forced off campus as the school erected plywood walls a day after police arrested 120 protesters.
“They literally have signs that anarchy, violence, resistance is their way. So I think it makes sense for them to put up a board,” said the New York University freshman. .
“I'm Jewish and I'm walking on campus. I'm scared. I'm scared to walk with Jewish stars.”
New York University officials said they believe most of the protesters are not students.
Tensions reached a breaking point at Columbia University, where university officials moved all in-person classes online until the end of the semester.
The students say they are taking action as the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza exceeds 34,000, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
“I have to stand up and organize and keep the movement going like we do here in the United States, especially here in Dallas, Texas. That is the fact that has kept me going,” said Noor, a Palestinian student. Saleh said.
UTD has not yet responded to NBC 5's request for comment.
