Students at DePaul University have taken up tents in an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza, demanding that their institution sever financial connections with Israel. This form of protest has become a trend across college campuses nationwide, with the University of Chicago and Northwestern University making headlines in recent days. As reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, DePaul's Divestment Coalition Encampment voiced their demands, including the school's recognition of what they term an "ongoing genocide in Gaza," and a call for divestment from companies profiting from the occupation.

Meanwhile, at the University of Chicago, the encampment has entered its second day with protesters resolved to stay put despite the administration's warnings of possible disciplinary actions. "It's the only choice they've left us with," U of C student Christopher Iacovetti told ABC7 Chicago. The quad has been transformed with approximately 40 tents, among them a medic tent, and even a makeshift library. Echoes of their demands resound through the continued plea for divestment and transparency in university investments.

The response of the institutions has varied, with DePaul University keeping a close but somewhat accommodating eye. The university has reached out inviting protesters to discuss means of peaceful protest. "Peaceful protest long has been a legitimate means of expression at DePaul," said the DePaul University Office of the President in an email, which was shared by the Chicago Sun-Times. However, they clearly stated that tents and unpermitted structures circumvent the university's policies.

Reaction to the protests has been mixed among the student body. At the University of Chicago, some Jewish students have mounted their banners in the quad in response to claims of anti-Semitic rhetoric. A PhD student, wishing to remain unnamed, expressed the importance for those feeling silenced to have a voice, as reported by ABC7 Chicago.