Last spring, student protests over the Israeli war on Gaza reached a turning point in the spring, and now with the start of the new academic year, universities are preparing for a revitalized protest movement this fall ahead of the elections.

University administrations, which have faced criticism for cracking down on protesters, will come under increased scrutiny over how they respond.

About 100 protesters marched to the campus home of George Washington University's president on Thursday, continuing to urge the university to divest from arms manufacturers and other companies tied to Israel's war efforts, the George Washington University newspaper, The Hachette, reported.

They also gathered outside the campus park where last year's camp was held. The area is now fenced off with a gate that is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to Axios, university President Ellen Greenberg said in a letter to the student and academic community this month that the campus has “three core commitments.”

These recommendations include “promoting a safe campus environment, respecting the George Washington University community’s right to free expression, and keeping our educational and research programs running with minimal disruption.”

More than 100 tents were set up on George Washington University's campus and part of H Street, which runs through the university's center (northwest) last May. Students and faculty from several DMV universities helped set up the camp.

At the time, a pro-Israel student group and Republicans in Congress called on the district and the university to remove the protesters.

The police evacuated the camp after about two weeks. More than 30 students were arrested.”

Charges against some students could be dropped if they accept a deal that limits access to campus for six months, The Washington Post reports.

Questions are swirling about whether the camps will return and whether student activism will spread to other campuses.

With the semester coinciding with the Nov. 5 election, Greenberg described the campus as “on the cusp of a pivotal moment in the history of our university and our nation.”