Reporter Grills Columbia Student After She Demands the University Help Feed Protestors Occupying Hamilton Hall

Reporter: “Why should the university be obligated to provide food to people who have taken over a building?”

STUDENT: “Well, for first of all, we’re saying that they’re obligated to provide food to students who pay for a meal plan here.”

Reporter: “But you mentioned that there was a request that food and water be brought in. Unless I missed —“

STUDENT: “To allow it to be brought in. I mean, well, I guess it’s ultimately a question of what kind of community and obligation Columbia feels it has to its students. Do you want students to die of dehydration and starvation or get severely ill, even if they disagree with you? If the answer is no, then you should allow basic — I mean, it’s crazy to say because we’re on an Ivy League campus, but this is like basic humanitarian aid we’re asking for. Like, could people please have a glass of water?”

Reporter: “But they did put themselves in that — very deliberately in that situation and in that position. So it seems like you’re sort of saying we want to be revolutionaries, we want to take up this building, now would you please bring us food and water?”

STUDENT: “Nobody’s asking them to bring anything. We’re asking them to not violently stop us from bringing in basic humanitarian aid.”

Reporter 2: “They’re stopping the delivery of food.”

STUDENT: “We are looking for a commitment from them that they will not stop it.”

Reporter 2: “But they haven’t stopped it.”

STUDENT: “Well, I don’t — I’m not — I don’t know to what extent it has been attempted, but we’re looking for a commitment.”