Tensions rise at Harvard as university limits access to protest hotspot

Harvard University has restricted access to Harvard Yard, only allowing entry to students and authorized personnel.

This measure comes in direct response to a series of pro-Palestine protests that began to intensify on Wednesday.

Student activists linked to the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee initiated the demonstration by setting up an encampment within the Yard to protest the university’s suspension of their committee and its continued financial investments in companies allegedly supporting the occupation of Palestine and actions in Gaza.

The situation escalated unexpectedly early Thursday morning when the Yard’s sprinkler system activated at approximately 2:30 a.m., soaking the protesters and their tents amid chilly 36-degree weather.

“As protesters spent their first night in the Harvard Yard encampment, the biggest threat to their stay has not come from administrators or Harvard University police officers, but the Yard’s sprinklers,” reported the Harvard Crimson early Thursday.

Following the soaking, the students quickly moved their tents to drier ground to continue their protest. The university had previously erected signs warning against unauthorized structures, indicating that setting up tents or tables could lead to disciplinary actions.

The wave of protests at Harvard reflects a larger national movement, with similar demonstrations occurring at universities like Columbia and New York University, where police confrontations have resulted in arrests. These actions underscore the growing tensions on U.S. college campuses over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

A Harvard spokesperson emphasized the reasons for the Yard’s closure, stating, “We are closely monitoring the situation and are prioritizing the safety and security of the campus community.”

This closure, intended to last until Friday, has garnered mixed reactions from the student body. Some students see it as an essential step for maintaining order, while others view it as a suppression of free speech and peaceful assembly.