Protestors end occupation in Nelson Hall East

by El Leñador editors

Protestors officially cleared the building on Feb. 28 around 2 a.m., ending their occupation of Nelson Hall East that began Feb. 27 around at 11 a.m. No arrests were made. 

As of 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, protest signs in front of Nelson Hall East have been cleared and at least four security guards are surrounding the outside of the building and SAC Quad. A security guard on the scene said the security is a third party company called AX9 Inc. brought in from the university. The security guards said they are working with UPD and were advised to notify them if protesters attempt to occupy a building. They were told to look for people who were not supposed to be on campus or are masked. 

Today, Feb. 28 at 9:30 a.m., the university shared an update with El Leñador:

“At approximately 2 a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 28), 20 individuals occupying a meeting room in Nelson Hall East exited on their own, and the University was able to clear and secure the building. There were no arrests or injuries. Individuals were free to leave at any time, and following multiple dispersal warnings they vacated the building. The campus is open and operating as normal, though certain buildings remain locked. A number of the individuals who had occupied the meeting room have been identified, and the University will follow up using the appropriate campus and legal processes. We respect everyone’s First Amendment right to free expression–regardless of their viewpoints and backgrounds. We also support the rights of all students, staff, and faculty to a safe and respectful learning and working environment that is free from disruptions.”

Students for a Democratic Society Humboldt (SDS) stated that protestors left the building due to police presence outside, following dispersal warnings.

Timeline of events

Feb. 27, 8-9:30 a.m. : A public forum was held in the quad with Mike Fisher, Acting Vice President for Administration & Finance. Steve Karp, Acting Vice President of University Advancement, attended to explain CPH’s investment history. Siemens Hall was locked prior to the forum. The forum focused on protestors’ three demands: divestment from all ties to Israel funded military interests, designation as a sanctuary campus and solidarity with the Teamsters strikers. After the public forum, protestors held a sit-in in the quad in front of The Depot.

According to Vice President Chrissy Holliday and Director of News and Information Aileen Yoo, President Richard A. Carvajal was unable to attend the public forum due to previously scheduled travel. 

Feb 27, 11 a.m. : Protestors marched into Nelson Hall East to occupy the Goodwin Forum. The building was closed and locked, with administration guarding all entrances. People were not allowed to enter the building, but were free to leave anytime and could not re-enter. 

Travis Fleming from Facilities Management stated that admin on the scene were attempting to stop outside protestors from delivering food and supplies to the door and that admin locked the bathrooms inside to prevent protestors from staying. 

Feb 27, 1 p.m. : During the Cal Poly Humboldt Foundation Finance & Investment Committee Zoom meeting at 1 p.m., it was announced that as of now, CPH has only fully divested from Brown Advisory Sustainable Growth Fund “due to long-term underperformance relative to its benchmark and peers,” according to the Finance & Investment Committee Meeting Certified Resolution.

“It’s just proving that it’s not as hard as they were claiming it was in the meeting earlier today,” a protestor in Nelson Hall East said.

Feb 27, 2 p.m. till end of occupation:  Around 2 p.m., Acting Vice President for Administration & Finance Mike Fisher and Vice President Chrissy Holliday held a short meeting with the protestors in the building to discuss drafting a response to the protestor’s demands. 

“Unlike this morning, [Mike Fisher] was much more willing to negotiate now than he was before,” a protester in Goodwin Forum said. “He’s now willing to give a written statement of the things he will do.”

Additional protestors gathered outside Nelson Hall East with signs and chants. Some protestors outside were able to pass along food and supplies to those inside the building. Leslie Martinez, a student outside of the building, said people threw food and supplies up to the door of the Goodwin Forum. 

“Eventually I had to throw it to them,” Martinez said. 

The Cal Poly Humboldt Police Department Daily Crime Log shows a patrol check was called in at 11:01 p.m. on Feb. 27, then a disturbance call at 12:32 a.m. and another patrol check at 1:45 a.m. that closed at 4:30 a.m. on Feb. 28, all occurring at Nelson Hall East. 

Protestors occupied the building until around 2 a.m. on Feb. 28. 

University’s plans moving forward 

The university does not have any further concrete plans for divestment but are open to discussions.

“The University is committed to further conversations,” said the university.

In an Instagram post on Feb. 28,  SDS responded to the university’s response to the occupation. 

“We, the students, will not accept the response from the Cal Poly Humboldt campus administration. We do not believe that our demands have been adequately addressed. Additionally, we are concerned with the consistent messaging of what will be ‘continually’ practiced by the University, rather than changed,” SDS said. 

Nelson Hall East and West, and Siemens Hall were closed during the duration of the occupation and student workers were not able to work inside both buildings. The university stated that all student workers scheduled to work on Feb. 27 will still get paid.