Columbia University Morningside Heights campus is on lockdown after student protesters stormed into Hamilton Hall and occupied the lecture building in the early hours of Tuesday.
Access is restricted to students living in dorms within the campus gates and essential personnel. Classes are being taught remotely. The only access point into and out of campus is the 116th Street and Amsterdam gate.
The Office of the President sent an email at 9:34 am informing the Columbia community about access restriction. Students with dining plans who do not have access to the university are being redirected to eat at Teachers College from 11am to 7pm.
On Monday, Columbia officials asked protesters to leave the Gaza Solidarity Encampment as negotiations between pro-Palestinian protesters and the university’s administration ended without an agreement. But the students voted to stay put and are now implementing an escalation strategy.
There’s no outside media access at the moment, so a group of Columbia University student reporters are the only journalists currently on the ground.
Francesca is an Italian reporter covering politics for City Newsroom. She has reported in print, web, audio and video. Francesca speaks three languages.
Edward is from Fresno, California. He covers transportation for City Newsroom.
