Columbia University students were outraged on Tuesday as they were denied access to dining halls and food due to violent pro-terror rioters breaking into an academic building on the Ivy League campus, forcing the campus into lockdown. Only students residing in dorms on the Morningside Heights campus and essential staff were allowed in, leaving many low-income students unable to access meals that they relied on. This caused frustration and disbelief among students, with some being denied breakfast and others unable to use their meal swipes.
Security measures were put in place, such as a screening tent on Amsterdam Avenue and West 116th Street, to allow limited access to the campus. Students who were turned away expressed their frustration and disappointment, feeling that the administration was disregarding the needs of low-income students. Some students, like Taylor Francisco, who was working on her Master’s thesis, were severely disrupted in their academic pursuits due to the campus lockdown. Others, like Sam, expressed their desire to leave Columbia amid the chaos caused by the rioters.
The rioters had stormed into Hamilton Hall, an academic building on campus, and barricaded themselves inside while displaying a flag calling for “intifada.” The violent protesters used barricades, chairs, tables, and even hammers to prevent others from entering the building. This takeover occurred following the school’s decision to suspend students who refused to vacate a tent encampment that had disrupted campus life for weeks prior. The rioters continued to occupy the building on the South Lawn, where an anti-Israel encampment had been set up for over a week.
The disruption caused by the rioters not only impacted students’ access to food and campus resources but also affected their ability to focus on their academic responsibilities, such as studying for finals and meeting with advisors. The situation was described as frustrating and unwarranted by many students, who felt that the protesters should have been removed earlier. With the campus on lockdown and the presence of violent protesters, many students, like Sam, felt unsafe and decided to leave the campus altogether.
The actions of the rogue rioters on the Columbia University campus highlighted issues of safety, access to resources, and academic disruptions for students. The disturbing turn of events, from the violent takeover of an academic building to the denial of basic necessities like food, showcased the impact of such incidents on the campus community. It raised questions about security protocols, administrative responses, and the ability of students to engage in their academic pursuits effectively. The incident also prompted students to reflect on the larger issues of protest, extremism, and the boundaries of free speech on college campuses.
