Two Columbia University students describe the chaotic scene overnight at Columbia University, where protesters took over university buildings. Students say they feel abandoned and alone because of lax security on campus, where anti-Israel demonstrators run amok and outside agitators have invaded campus.
Student Jessica Schwalb posted a wild video to X of anti-Israel protesters smashing through glass windows with hammers to gain access to Hamilton Hall, an academic building used by deans and other senior officials.
”[It was] It was like a scene from “The Shining,”” Schwalb said on “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning. [a] He set off a human chain of pro-Palestinian demonstrators and basically lifted them up and shoved them around and called them Zionists. ”
Anti-Semitic riots reach boiling point in Colombia, with agitators occupying university buildings and barricaded doors
Overnight, a masked person broke a door window at Columbia University with a hammer. (Alex Kent)
“He was physically assaulted and once again met with complete silence from public safety and the NYPD. So we feel alone on this campus.”
Another student, Jonas Do, editor-in-chief of the monthly magazine Columbia Sundial, said he was studying for his final exam when the chaos began.
“It was a very surreal scene. I was in Butler Library, our main library, preparing for the finals…I came out and the camp was alive and everyone was marching. Everybody said they were going to take over Hamilton Hall,” Du recalled. “And we knew right away that this was an escalation, because back in 1968, this was a big event that made Columbia famous as a very active school, and it actually did a lot of damage to the reputation of the university. .”
“They occupied Hamilton Hall in 1968 to protest the Vietnam War, and they’re doing the same thing now, because they see this as a continuation of the same movement,” Du said. continued. “This is a very important building…This is where Columbia University’s deans are located, it’s where we have our core curriculum center, and that’s where every student’s academic experience is central.”
Du said Columbia University lost control of its gates and outside agitators entered the campus.
“Tonight we learned, [and] This video we posted on Twitter shows people climbing through windows from the street. Independents are likely climbing through dormitory building windows to enter campus and participate in protests. Therefore, Columbia has completely lost control of its gates. ”
Demonstrators at Columbia University protested together throughout the night. (Alex Kent)
Schwalb, who is Jewish, said the campus is too dangerous for her, even with the new security checkpoints.
“I don’t feel safe because there are too many reports of people getting ID cards from students who are not students.I have also spoken to people who have confessed on camera.[s] All you have to do is swipe,” Schwalb said.
“It is said that public security does not look at ID photos, but only sees that the light is green and lets them pass.It is true that there were a lot of people on campus today, and there were many people on campus who were involved in the break-in. There was also a robbery.” Hamilton Hall, and once again there was no response from Public Safety. I really couldn’t find it anywhere tonight. ”
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Schwalb said it was scary to be part of the Jewish community on campus, given the prevalence of anti-Semitic acts on campus.
“There are kids who haven’t come to campus for the past two weeks because of fear. There was also a Jewish professor, but his ID card was deactivated because the university couldn’t guarantee his safety.” Schwalb added.
“Despite this, the other professors whom Nemat Shafik said he would fire in a Congressional hearing were not allowed on campus, and the suspended students are still leading chants on campus. “It’s like the system on campus is clearly broken.” ”
Mr. Toji echoed those sentiments, saying the university was putting the interests of the protesters ahead of the rights of all the other students paying $80,000 in tuition.
“There are freshman dorms around Hamilton Hall, and people are trying to sleep there. They’ve been yelling at them since 3 a.m., but Butler Library is right there, where people are trying to sleep for their final exams. I’m trying to study. It also means classes have become hybrid,”’ Du said.
“They are prioritizing what the protesters want, which is a hindrance, over the interests of other students, and that is the administration’s policy, and I don’t think that will get public attention. ”
During last night’s occupation of Columbia University, a sign that read “HINDS HALL” was posted outside the building. (Alex Kent)
Students are demanding three things from universities. These include divesting funding to Israel, increasing transparency in university investments, and granting full amnesty to students who participated in weeks of destructive demonstrations.
However, Do said that some of his university friends had become radicalized but did not fully understand the current situation in Gaza.
“What we’re seeing now is an echo chamber. They’re living together in camps, they’re going to protests together, it’s almost like a cult,” Du said.
“A lot of people would describe it that way, because you have leaders who say, ‘from the rivers to the sea,’ and they repeat that without thinking. You don’t even know which ocean it is.”
“And we’ve seen a lot of once-close friends get sucked into this movement because of echo chambers, and that’s heartbreaking.”
Both Do and Schwalb are calling on the university to take decisive action to quell the protests.
“My message to university presidents is to figure out a way to take back control of the university. You cannot negotiate with students who have shown a willingness to be arrested for breaking the rules,” Du said.
“If we decide not to tolerate the encampments, we must not begin negotiations with protesters again. Take action.”
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Protesters at Columbia University barricaded doors overnight. (Alex Kent)
Meanwhile, Schwalb said he wants to see protesters face harsh consequences.
“Part of me really wants to see the NYPD force these students to face the consequences of their very belligerent and very violent behavior. And I… Another part of me understands that if they get arrested more, this movement will only intensify,” Schwalb acknowledged.
“And that’s going to make this problem even worse. So I’m probably thinking about failing grades or automatic class absences or other things that could affect your chances of getting a job upon graduation.” We are considering further academic punishment, such as painful long-term disciplinary action. Many of these people are seniors or juniors.”
FOX News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
