Two Columbia University students describe the chaotic scenes at Columbia University overnight, when protesters Captured an educational building. Students say lax security on campus – where anti-Israel protesters run amok, while outside agitators have infiltrated the campus – have left them feeling abandoned and isolated.
Student Jessica Schwalb posts wild video on X of anti-Israel protesters breaking windows with hammers gain access In Hamilton Hall, an academic building used by the dean and other senior offices.
“[It]was almost like a scene from The Shining,” Schwalb told “Fox & Friends” Tuesday morning. “And I also saw a student who was trying to stop them by barricading the doors and then he was essentially surrounded by a human chain of pro-Palestine protesters and basically picked up and pushed out and called a Zionist. “
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A masked man breaks a door and window with a hammer at Columbia University overnight. (Alex Kent)
“She was physically attacked, and then, there is complete silence from public safety, From NYPD, So, we feel alone in this campus.”
Another student, Jonas Du, editor in chief of the monthly magazine Columbia Sundial, says he was studying for finals when the chaos began.
“It was a very surreal scene. I was in Butler Library, our main library, getting ready for finals… I walked out, the camp is alive, everyone is marching and everyone is saying That they’re going to take over Hamilton Hall.” Du was remembered. “And immediately I knew it was a strain because, in 1968, this was a major event that put Columbia on the map in terms of being a very active school, and it really did a lot of damage to the reputation of the university. Was.”
Du added, “They occupied Hamilton Hall in 1968 to protest the Vietnam War and now they are doing the same thing because they see it as a continuation of that same movement.” “It’s a very important building…it’s where the dean of Columbia’s colleges is, it’s where the core curriculum is and it’s the center of every student’s educational experience.”
Du said Columbia University has lost control of its gates and outside agitators have infiltrated the premises.
“We found out tonight, (and) there’s a video of it that we posted on Twitter where people are climbing through windows from the street. People who are possibly not affiliated are climbing into dorm building windows, Coming to campus and possibly joining the protest has caused Columbia to completely lose control of its gates.”
Protesters at Columbia University protested together throughout the night. (Alex Kent)
Schwalb, who is Jewish, said the compound is now too dangerous for him, even though a new security checkpoint has been installed.
“I don’t feel safe because there are a lot of reports — and I’ve talked to people who have confessed on camera — that they’re getting IDs from students and they’re not students and then they just swipe,” Schwalb said. Said.
“They even say how Public Security doesn’t look at the ID picture, they just see that it’s the green light, and they let you in. There were certainly several people on campus today, professionals. There were thieves who helped break into Hamilton Hall and again there was no response from public safety, they really were nowhere to be found tonight.”
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Schwalb said it is horrifying to be part of the Jewish community on campus given the widespread anti-Semitic behavior at the university.
“There are some kids who haven’t come to campus for the last two weeks out of fear and there was a Jewish professor there and his ID card was deactivated because the university couldn’t guarantee his safety,” Schwalb said.
“Yet they let other professors, about whom Nemat Shafiq said in her congressional hearing, be fired and not be allowed to come to campus, and the students who are suspended are still on campus chanting. So it’s like the system is clearly broken on campus.”
Du echoed those sentiments and said the university was prioritizing the interests of the protesters over the interests of the rights of all the other students who are paying $80,000 in tuition fees.
“There are freshman dorms all around Hamilton Hall where people are trying to sleep. They’re screaming at 3 in the night and Butler Library is right there. That’s where people are trying to study for finals and it’s “It also means that classes have become mixed,” Du said.
“They are prioritizing what the protesters want, which is disruption over the interests of other students, and that is the policy of the administration, and I don’t think that will sit very well in the public eye.”
A sign displaying “Hinds Hall” hangs outside a building during the Columbia University takeover last night. (Alex Kent)
The students are demanding three things from the university: withdrawing its financial support of Israel, becoming more transparent with the university’s investments, and providing a full apology to students who participated in the disruptive, week-long demonstrations.
However, Du said that while some of his friends in college have been radicalized, they still do not fully understand the current situation in Gaza.
“What we’re seeing now is an echo chamber. They’re living together in the camp, they’re going to these protests together, and 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 river to the sea’, and then they repeat it without thinking. A lot of them probably don’t even know which river and Which sea is it?
“And because of the echo chamber, we’ve seen a lot of our people, you know, who were once good friends, get dragged into this movement and it’s very heartbreaking.”
Both Du and Schwalb are calling on the university to take decisive action to quell the protests.
Du said, “My message to the university president would be to figure out how to take back control of the university. You cannot negotiate with students who have shown that they are willing to be arrested for breaking the rules.”
“Once you have decided that you will not tolerate trespassing, do not re-engage with protesters. To maintain a safe learning environment, a safe academic and intellectual environment, particularly for the Jewish community, Take decisive action.”
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Protesters at Columbia University blocked a door overnight. (Alex Kent)
Meanwhile, Schwalb said she wants to see protesters face tougher consequences.
Schwalb admitted, “Part of me really wants the NYPD to force these students to face consequences for their very belligerent, very violent actions and part of me understands that if they had to face more arrests This movement will flare up further.”
“And that would almost make this problem worse. So, I’m thinking maybe more academic penalties like failure, automatic failure of classes, or just some other more painful long-term disciplinary action that could affect their job prospects upon graduation.” Can, because many of these people are senior or junior.”
Fox News’ Lawrence Richard contributed to this report.
