In recent weeks, anti-war protests on college campuses in the United States have led to the arrest of professors who were attempting to document the demonstrations using their cell phones. Among them were Annelise Orleck, a Jewish professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and Steve Tamari, a Palestinian-American professor at Washington University in St. Louis. These arrests shed light on the involvement of professors in the student-led protests and the response of both university administrations and law enforcement.

According to a CNN review of police records, court filings, and news reports, at least 50 professors across the country have been arrested at campus protests. Some professors actively participated in the protests based on their own beliefs, while others attended in a show of support for their students' right to free speech.

These arrests come amidst increasing pressure on universities from conservative politicians and donors who criticize them as being overly liberal. The criticism has intensified following the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel. Many conservatives accuse universities of tolerating or abetting anti-Semitism by allowing protests against the war, while student activists accuse universities of ignoring what they consider to be genocide.

While university administrations claim to support free speech while maintaining order and safety, critics argue that many schools have responded to protests too quickly with police action and disciplinary measures, hindering academic freedom. Some professors have faced physical confrontation with law enforcement during arrests. For example, at Emory University in Atlanta, an economics professor, Caroline Fohlin, was physically subdued by police while trying to intervene in the arrest of a protester. Fohlin was charged with disorderly conduct and battery against a police officer.

In some cases, professors have been arrested for simply documenting police activities. Gregory Pflugfelder, a recently retired associate professor of Japanese history at Columbia University, was arrested while taking photos of police officers assembling before a raid on Columbia's campus.

Dr. Isaac Kamola, the director of the American Association of University Professors' Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom, highlights the chilling effect these arrests have on faculty members. Kamola states that the problem is exacerbated by the vulnerability experienced by non-tenured faculty who fear the consequences of taking a public stance on controversial issues.

This trend of involving law enforcement in handling campus protests has led to a normalization of police presence on campuses, as noted by Kamola. Some university officials have declined to comment on individual cases, but emphasize their commitment to free speech on campus while also considering safety and the rights of other campus community members.

However, faculty members at some institutions have pushed back against university leadership. The faculty senate at the University of Southern California voted to censure the USC president and provost over issues including the removal of a protest encampment from campus and the use of police to arrest protesters. Columbia University's senate, though stopping short of censuring their president, passed a resolution condemning the violation of academic freedom and due process rights by bringing in law enforcement.

In response to their involvement in protests, some professors have faced physical injuries. Orleck, the Dartmouth professor, was knocked to the ground and restrained with plastic handcuffs, while Tamari, the Washington University professor, suffered multiple broken ribs and a broken hand during his arrest.

Orleck, who attended the protest to support student protesters and raise awareness about the plight of Palestinians, hopes her story will draw attention to the violent response by law enforcement to a peaceful assembly. She points out that some of her colleagues were treated even more brutally.

The incidents involving professors being arrested at college protests raise significant questions about academic freedom and the balance between free expression and maintaining order on campuses. As universities grapple with these challenges, it is vital to ensure that the rights and safety of both students and faculty are upheld, while also fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be freely expressed.