Harvard’s Protest Against Sprinkler Sabotage Indicates a Shift in Culture Following LGBTQ Equality Movement

Harvard took a strong stance against the pro-Hamas occupiers by using sprinklers to disperse a protest encampment that had been set up in Harvard Yard. The sprinklers were activated from 2:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday morning as temperatures dropped, causing the protesters to scramble to stop the flooding with buckets.

This move was a quiet yet effective way to send a message to the protesters to vacate the area without any direct confrontation. It appears that the resignation of former President Claudine Gay may have played a role in this change of approach.

Prior to this incident, Harvard had already restricted access to the yard by locking the gates and posting signs prohibiting the setup of tents or tables. This shift in handling protests signals a departure from the tolerance exhibited under Gay’s leadership, where anti-Israel protesters were allowed to disrupt campus life.

The current interim president, Alan Garber, seems to have taken a more proactive approach to preventing protests that violate college regulations before they escalate into larger issues on campus. While further changes may be needed at the institutional level, progress in addressing these issues is a step in the right direction.

For now, it’s important to be cautious of puddles in Harvard Yard.