Brown Divest Coalition first led a series of protests in April calling for the university’s governing board to divest. While university officials did review a student proposal outlining why the board should divest from 10 companies, it ultimately decided not to do so
Ghouls: Silly protesters, you should stop protesting and just ask for what you want nicely and with a well reasoned argument rather than sitting around in encampments and shouting slogans which do nothing!
Protesters: ask nicely with a well reasoned argument
Ghouls: haha, nice try, why would I ever do this? Just because you asked nicely and presented a reasonable argument??
They expect you to ask, they say no, then you say "oh, ok, that sucks. But alright!" As if the situation was like I asked for chocolate cake and you bought me vanilla on my birthday and told me tough shit. Some inconsequential menial thing.
Those in power don't like it when people have principles and they really really hate it when people insist on living by those principles and implementing those principles into society as a whole. You can only believe in the almighty dollar in America and any belief otherwise, such as "I would like to make dollar without killing babies," is unacceptable. They are allowed to force the belief that killing babies is fine in pursuit of dollar though.
Sorry for putting it into such redundant and reductive terms. It helps me though to remember that these people, capitalists and all their little subsidiaries down to the board members at universities, never actually engage in discussions with those outside of their capitalist bubble. The answer is already decided the moment you asked and nothing but force will make that change.
It's amazing to me that these ancient institutions that have been the slowest to change and most reactionary in beliefs are gifted so much credibility.