A year into the Israel-Hamas war, students say a chill on free speech has reached college classrooms

Campuses across the U.S. have been calmer in the wake of last spring’s protests, yet many are mired in a lingering unease. Students say they are reluctant to speak out for fear it could pit them against students, professors or employers. Social bubbles have cemented along the divisions of the war. New protest rules on many campuses raise the risk of suspension or expulsion. American universities pride themselves as being places of open discourse where students can engage across their differences. But when it comes to the war in Gaza, some students say in today’s climate, it’s easier to stay quiet.