What
to
Know
-
A
pro-Palestinian
protest
on
Columbia
University’s
lawn
almost
two
weeks
ago
has
spawned
anti-war
demonstrations
at
colleges
across
the
country;
police
have
said
they’re
standing
by
if
needed -
Protesters
took
over
a
campus
building
overnight,
smashing
doors
and
windows
of
Hamilton
Hall,
which
is
one
of
several buildings
occupied during
a
1968
civil
rights
and
anti-Vietnam
War
protest -
The
Ivy
League
school
has
begun
doling
out
suspensions
for
students
who
don’t
adhere
to
university
policy
in
breaking
down
the
encampment;
that
means
they
won’t
be
able
to
finish
the
spring
semester
Columbia
University
severely
restricted
access
to
its
Morningside
Heights
campus
Tuesday,
leaving
just
one
gateway
open
for
essential
staff
and
dorm-dwelling
students
after
pro-Palestinian
protesters
took
over
a
building
in
an
escalation
of
anti-war
demonstrations
that
have
been
simmering
for
more
than
a
week.
Video
footage
showed
protesters
locking
arms
in
front
of
Hamilton
Hall
overnight
and
carrying
furniture
and
metal
barricades
to
the
building,
one
of
several that
was
occupied during
a
1968
civil
rights
and
anti-Vietnam
War
protest
on
the
campus.
Posts
on
an
Instagram
page
for
protest
organizers
shortly
after
midnight
urged
people
to
protect
the
encampment
and
join
them
at
Hamilton
Hall.
A
“Free
Palestine”
banner
hung
from
a
window.
Later
footage
showed
people
smashing
glass
to
get
inside.
“An
autonomous
group
reclaimed
Hind’s
Hall,
previously
known
as
”Hamilton
Hall,”
in
honor
of Hind
Rajab,
a
martyr
murdered
at
the
hands
of
the
genocidal
Israeli
state
at
the
age
of
six
years
old,”
CU
Apartheid
Divest
posted
on
X,
formerly
known
as
Twitter,
early
Tuesday.
The
student
radio
station, WKCR-FM,
broadcast
a
play-by-play
of
the
hall’s
takeover
–
which
occurred
nearly
12
hours
after
Monday’s
2
p.m.
deadline
for
the
protesters
to
leave
an
encampment
of
around
120
tents
or
face
suspension.
The
NYPD
said
Tuesday
it
has
officers
posted
outside
the
campus,
should
the
university
ask
for
their
help.
Representatives
for
the
university
did
not
immediately
respond
to
emails
requesting
comment
early
Tuesday,
but
the
Public
Safety
Department
said
in
a
statement
that
access
to
the
Morningside
campus
has
been
limited
to
students
living
in
the
residential
buildings
and
employees
who
provide
essential
services,
like
dining,
public
safety
and
maintenance
staff.
There’s
just
one
access
point
into
and
out
of
campus
—
the
116th
Street
and
Amsterdam
gate.
All
other
campus
entry
points
are
closed.
In
an
escalation
of
anti-war
protests
at
Columbia
University,
early
Tuesday
morning
protesters
took
over
Hamilton
Hall
prompting
the
university
to
advise
students
to
stay
away
from
campus.
“This
access
restriction
will
remain
in
place
until
circumstances
allow
otherwise,”
the
statement
said.
“The
safety
of
every
single
member
of
this
community
is
paramount.
We
thank
you
for
your
patience,
cooperation
and
understanding.”
The
overnight
developments
come
a
day
after
talks
between
university
officials
and
student
representatives
remained
at
a
standstill,
according
to
a
letter
Columbia
University
President
Minouche
Shafik
sent
the
school
community.
The
goal,
for
the
university,
is
to
have
the
tents
dismantled
and
protesters
adhere
to
university
policies;
peaceful
demonstration
can
continue.
Students,
however,
have
refused
to
leave
the
encampment,
demanding
Columbia
divest
from
Israel.
Shafik
says
that’s
not
on
the
table.
She
offered
a
number
of
steps
including
more
transparency
and
review
for
future
investing
proposals.
The
university
also
said
it
would
invest
in
health
and
education
in
Gaza.
Meanwhile,
it
is
now
doling
out
suspensions
to
those
who
defied
Monday’s
deadline.
Students
under
suspension
will
not
be
able
to
access
the
school’s
facilities
and
their
ID
will
be
deactivated,
a
notice
said.
They
won’t
be
able
to
complete
the
semester,
which
marked
the
final
day
of
classes
for
the
spring
term.
The
school
said
further
sanctions
for
students
who
do
not
leave
could
include
suspension
for
a
term
or
more,
and
expulsion.
Commencement
is
scheduled
to
take
place
at
Columbia
on
Wednesday,
May
15.
Some
other
colleges
have
adjusted
their
graduation
programs
amid
growing
protests,
including
at
USC,
where
the
school
canceled
its
main
commencement.
Columbia
has
not
announced
any
changes
at
this
point.
Some
of
the
commencement
ceremonies
at
the
Ivy
League
school
are
planned
for
the
lawn
where
the
encampment
is
currently
located.
“We
owe
it
to
all
of
our
graduates
and
their
loved
ones
to
honor
their
achievement,”
Shafik
said.
“We
want
to
reassure
our
community
who
are
trying
to
make
plans
that
we
will
indeed
hold
a
Commencement.”
No
serious
injuries
have
been
reported
amid
the
protests.
Mayor
Eric
Adams
has
blamed
unspecified
“outsiders”
for
much
of
the
volatility.
He
said
Monday
his
administration
has
been
in
touch
with
presidents
of
local
colleges,
not
just
Columbia,
but
also
NYU
and
FIT,
to
ensure
student
safety.