Indian-Origin Princeton Student Arrested for Pro-Palestine Protests: The Story of Achinthya Sivalingan

Achinthya Sivalingan, an Indian-origin student at Princeton University, has been banned from the campus following her arrest during pro-Palestine demonstrations. Along with another student, Hassan Sayed, she was apprehended for trespassing and was reportedly “immediately barred from the campus.” The arrest was described as “violent” by other students, with zip ties placed around their wrists and reports indicating they were evicted from their homes with less than five minutes to collect their belongings.

Achinthya Sivalingan was born in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu and raised in Columbus, Ohio. She is pursuing a Master of Public Affairs (MPA) degree in International Development at Princeton University, having previously studied world politics and economics at Ohio State University and interned at Harvard Law School. Her previous roles include supporting policy and advocacy work for climate adaptation, agricultural development, and nutrition portfolios at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

As a result of the protests, she is now facing disciplinary action and has been banned from the Princeton campus. The incident has attracted attention and sparked discussions about freedom of speech and expression on college campuses, especially concerning advocacy for political causes such as the Palestinian issue. This has also raised concerns about the handling of such protests and the treatment of students involved.

The response from the university and reactions from the wider community have varied, with calls for further investigation and dialogue. These events have highlighted the complexities and sensitivity of discussing political issues in educational settings and the challenges faced by those who seek to raise awareness and advocate for their beliefs.