“Keep Palestine Visible on Campus” Students for Justice Palestine Hosts Weekly Study-Ins

Lilly Rapprich

On Wednesday 4th November, the St Andrews Students for Justice Palestine (SJP) group hosted their first weekly study-in on the ground floor of the main library. According to the group the goal of the study-ins is to make the Palestinian cause visible on campus and to encourage all students to get involved in political activism through a low effort medium. 

With exam season fast approaching and coursework deadlines piling up, the library is busier than ever. With a high student footfall, it is the perfect location for SJP to make their cause visible to all students. The group can be easily found as they decorate their tables with Keffiyeh and Palestinian flags. SJP also provides students with the opportunity to explore literature on the history of Gaza during the study-ins.

Credit: instagram @sjp.sta

According to Lay, a spokesperson for SJP, “There is no programme to follow and no sign up needed,” which allows students to balance their political activism and their university workload. The group welcomes people to come along to the study-ins and ask questions about the current situation in Gaza or how to get involved in the Palestinian campaign at the University or with other charities. The study-in is designed to be flexible for students, allowing them to come and go, spending as much time as they wish studying with the group. The group received positive reactions with around thirty students participating over the course of the day, many of whom noted that “it was nice to see” the Palestinian movement so visible on campus.

Credit: instagram @sjp.sta

“The idea is to meet students where they already are. Most political activity asks people to come to a meeting, a talk, a protest. That works for those who are already committed, but it misses a much larger group who sympathise but haven’t found a way in,” Lay told The Stand. By making the study-ins a weekly event, SJP hopes to integrate the Palestinian movement into everyday life. All in all, it proves that university work isn’t keeping everyone too busy to be politically active, because both things can exist alongside each other. 

SJP outlines three main goals for their weekly study-ins: to maintain consistency to ensure that students are constantly aware of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza; secondly, to make other students aware of the student led campaigns and encourage them to participate even at a low level; and finally to show solidarity with Palestinians.