Columbia is restricting access to its Manhattan campus. Here's what it means for students, staff and visitors.
NEW YORK -- Columbia University is restricting access to its main campus in New York City amid reports of potential disruptions on college campuses across the U.S.
It comes after a tumultuous ending to the spring semester, when Pro-Palestinian demonstrations on the Upper Manhattan campus led to encampments and unrest that resulted in hundreds of arrests.
ID required to enter Columbia's campus
Starting Monday, students and staff must have a Columbia ID to enter, guests must be registered ahead of time, and access is limited to five entry points.
"We're all kind of waiting for the new school year to see what happens," said Benjamin Riley, a Columbia grad student.
"It's more of an inconvenience," saoid Nick Leek, a Columbia faculty member. "I feel like the students are going to find some way to make their message heard regardless."
New security in effect until further notice
Columbia COO Cas Holloway said Friday the new security rules are in effect until further notice.
"This change is intended to keep our community safe given reports of potential disruptions at Columbia and on college campuses across the country as we approach the beginning of the new school year. We are particularly concerned about non-affiliates who may not have the best interests of the Columbia community in mind," Holloway said.
Holloway's home was found vandalized the day before the new campus access rules were announced. Suspects allegedly splattered red paint onto his Brooklyn Heights apartment building, left live bugs in the lobby and posted flyers warning him not to expel students who participated in the takeover of Hamilton Hall last spring.
The university said the incident at Holloway's residence was not the reason for changes to campus security.
Additional measures being considered
Over the summer, Columbia President Minouche Shafik said more security measures would be taken. CBS News New York learned the school has been considering granting campus safety personnel power to arrest individuals.
Meanwhile, a group of Columbia students recently filed a lawsuit highlighting campus access during the spring semester's unrest.
"They had those rules in place in April and we know that all of these off-campus agitators came on campus anyway," said attorney Daniel Suhr, who is representing the students.
Columbia University declined our request for an interview.
Columbia's new campus access rules
According to Columbia's website, campus access is listed at "orange" level, which means only school ID holders are allowed and only the following entrances are open:
- College Walk at 116th Street and Broadway
- College Walk at 116th Street and Amsterdam Avenue
- Wien Gate on 116th Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Morningside Drive
- John Jay Gate on 114th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue
- Northwest Corner Building at 120th Street and Broadway (CUID swipe access from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., seven days a week)
Columbia says the rules will remain in effect until further notice. Classes for the fall 2024 term start on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
