HANOVER, N.H. (NewsNation) — After nearly 100 pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested at Dartmouth University Wednesday night, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu defended the school and law enforcement’s response, saying, “You can’t be woke about this.”

“You gotta nip this stuff. You can’t be woke about it,” the Republican said. “You can’t sit back; you can’t be appeasing about it. You got to say, ‘If you break the rules, there’s gonna be accountability and consequences.’”

Sununu said administrators at universities like Columbia, UCLA and USC have been too lenient with protesters who violated campus rules.

“If you don’t call in law enforcement soon enough, if you don’t get the message out early to the students about what is expected … that’s exactly why things got worse at UCLA, and USC, and Columbia,” Sununu said.

Dartmouth College President Sian Leah Beilock also defended the arrests at the anti-war encampment.

“Last night, people felt so strongly about their beliefs that they were willing to face disciplinary action and arrest. While there is bravery in that, part of choosing to engage in this way is not just acknowledging — but accepting — that actions have consequences,” she said in a statement. She cited campus policies prohibiting demonstrations that interfere with Dartmouth’s academic mission or increase safety risks.

Echoing that, Sununu said First Amendment speech protections don’t apply to campus policy.

“The president (of Dartmouth) made it very clear to all the students exactly what was expected and what would be tolerated,” said Sununu. “Making sure there’s a peaceful protest and their First Amendment rights were secured. But if you’re gonna violate school policy, there’s going to be accountability. And again, overall, it went very, very well here in New Hampshire.”

At least 1,945 people have been arrested nationwide since the protests began at Columbia University in New York on April 18.

They include a college professor from Illinois who said he suffered multiple broken ribs and a broken hand Saturday during a demonstration supporting Palestinians at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Many of those protesting Israel’s war in Gaza want their colleges and universities to divest from companies that do business with Israel or otherwise contribute to the war effort.