Universities Grapple with Unrest at Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations

Universities across the US continue to struggle to control pro-Palestinian demonstrations on their campuses.

Columbia University has emerged as one of the most prominent flashpoints in the ongoing unrest, with protesters occupying public spaces and blocking entrance to buildings. Reports of Jewish students being harassed drew condemnation, including from the White House.

Demonstrators have refused to abandon encampments as the university’s administration has threatened suspension. An order to abandon the camp by 2 PM EDT Monday went largely unheeded.

Similar demonstrations have occurred at Yale University, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Southern California, and the University of California, Berkeley.

At Northwestern University, protesters reached an agreement with the administration to largely dismantle their camp, with the university in turn funding two new Palestinian faculty members and funding scholarships for five Palestinian undergraduate students.

 

Slowing Economic Growth, Rising Inflation Raises Concerns

Economists have been hoping for a ‘soft landing’ scenario, in which the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening would tame inflation without causing a recession. In the closing months of 2023, it appeared that this ideal scenario was in reach. with falling inflation numbers, low unemployment, and talks of cutting interest rates. However, recent economic data has cast doubt on whether the US economy can stick the landing.

Inflation numbers for the first quarter of 2024 came in higher than expected, with consumer prices rising 3.5% in March year-over-year, up from February’s 3.2% inflation rate. The target inflation rate is 2%.

Meanwhile, US GDP growth for the first quarter of 2024 was 1.6% annualized, a decrease from the 3.4% growth rate in Q4 2023. This slowing growth, combined with the rising inflation, has raised fears of possible ‘stagflation,’ in which the economy shrinks while prices rise. Typically, prices decrease in recession, reducing the hardship on consumers amid job losses and reduced economic output. In a stagflation scenario, customers pay higher prices while still facing job losses.

Equity markets have pulled back in response to the data as investors have become far less confident of the Fed cutting interest rate cuts this year.

The current economic situation remains relatively strong on paper: Unemployment remains low, job growth remains strong, and inflation remains far below the high levels seen in 2021 and 2022. These positive economic indicators have been blunted by what some have called a cost of living crisis, most notably felt in rising housing costs and wages not keeping up with rising costs in general.

 

Baltimore Bridge Collapse Caused by Cargo Ship Kills 6, Threatens City Economy

The container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, on March 26, resulting in the death of 6 construction workers on the bridge. The ridge was closed to traffic just before the Dali lost power and collided with the bridge.

Traffic across the river will be detoured for the foreseeable future to Baltimore’s two tunnels as crews work to remove the fallen bridge, a challenge given the bridge’s size and structure. Baltimore’s port will largely remain closed, posing a threat to the metro area’s economy.