Universities and Conflict: How Administrators and Faculty Relate During Internal Protest

Universities must satisfy a diverse set of stakeholders with differing needs and goals. Some stakeholders have more institutional power, privileging some perspectives and leaving others without a voice, leading to protest. In this study, we examine how university stakeholders relate to one another during the 2023-24 pro-Palestine organizing at UCSB. Through interview analysis and thematic coding, we sought to understand the relationships between faculty, administrators, and the students they served. Admin juggled the roles, supporting the student protesters while enforcing the rules of the institution. This led them to being perceived as an obstacle rather than a resource. The faculty primarily served the students as liaisons and mentors. However, faculty found themselves clashing with some students’ strategic choices, leading to internal factions within the protest group. More collaboration between stakeholders in the future may prevent institutional infighting.