Thousands of Columbia University students and faculty members were cut off from libraries, labs and facilities on Tuesday after officials restricted access to the Morningside Heights campus after pro-Palestinian protesters occupied a building.
University officials said in a statement that only essential personnel and students who live in dorms on campus would be permitted access.
“The safety of every single member of this community is paramount,” the statement said.
The campus’s closure threw a wrench into daily life at Columbia, which has already faced regular disruptions in recent weeks as protesters formed an encampment on its main lawn. Hamilton Hall’s occupation early Tuesday morning marked an escalation in tensions between the student protesters and the administration..
Classes ended on Monday, but Tuesday marked the start of “study week,” when students prepare for their final exams.
The university only allowed entry with prior approval at a single entrance on West 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
The restrictions disrupted research at some of Columbia’s science labs. Daniel De La Cruz, a senior neuroscience researcher, said his ID did not work when he tried to enter at the gate. He said he needed to get inside to work on his cell culture – a time-sensitive task.
“If I do it tomorrow, it’s not great,” he said.
De La Cruz also noted the disruption comes at a crucial time for Columbia students. “It’s kind of sad that some people’s last week of school is being affected,” he said.
Economics professor Isaac Bjorke, who was hoping to hold in-person office hours with his students, was turned away at the entrance on Tuesday morning.
“They were going to be good office hours because their finals are in a week, and I haven’t been able to teach in person for the last couple of weeks either,” he said. “So I kind of wanted to have an in-person chance to actually meet with the students who care and I can’t. My office building is entirely closed. The entire campus is closed.”
Bjorke said he was frustrated with the university administration for shutting down the campus amid the protests.
“Faculty would like to do our jobs,” he said. “Students would like to learn something. We enjoy being here, we enjoy being in an academic place where we are actually supposed to be told your discourse is acceptable here. In fact, it’s encouraged. It does not seem like the administration here is taking that stance whatsoever.”
The group of pro-Palestinian protesters stormed Hamilton Hall after Columbia officials issued a notice to students in the encampment that they would face suspension if they did not clear out by 2 p.m. on Monday.
University President Minouche Shafik said earlier that day that officials and protesters could not reach an agreement that would result in the protesters leaving the lawn.
The demonstrators are calling for the university to financially divest from Israel due to the country’s military actions in Gaza. Shafik said in her statement that Columbia “will not divest from Israel,” and the demonstrators escalated by seizing the building less than 24 hours later.
Sueda Polat, a student protester, said she was also denied entry to the campus on Tuesday.
“The more the university acts like an authoritarian police state, by setting up checkpoints even at the library, the more students will be willing to resist,” she said.
“Not only has the university suspended negotiations, they’ve also made life difficult for thousands of their own student body,” she added.
University officials could not say how long the campus would remain closed to most students and faculty. Columbia students also occupied Hamilton Hall in 1968 to protest the Vietnam War, and remained inside for roughly a week.
“We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules,” university spokesperson Ben Chang said in a statement. “Students occupying the building face expulsion.”
Campus security also turned away Hayley McClintock, a postdoctoral researcher who works in an architecture lab.
“I was just trying to go to the gym,” she said. “I support the protesters and what they’re trying to do. It’s just been a little difficult getting around campus. I understand they’re doing what they need to do. I just wish I could get to the gym.”