Inside, the campus is largely unchanged from when I was there as a graduate student a decade ago.
Khalil is not a U.S. citizen, but is a legal permanent resident with a green card.
On Tuesday afternoon, I went to Columbia ahead of a planned walkout from classes to protest Khalils arrest.
Hundreds protest the arrest and detention of Mahmoud Khalil, a green-card holder and recent Columbia graduate who played a role in pro-Palestinian protests at the university, in New York City.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Other protesters in armbands stood at the entrances to the closed-off area, shadowing their counterparts in campus security.
The student was suspended, but later sued the university andwon a $395,000 settlement over their suspension.
Who keeps us safe?
We keep us safe!
protesters chanted on the steps of the library.
Those fears are not unfounded.
The university has not yet said how it will proceed.
But thus far, Columbias administration has repeatedly ruled against pro-Palestinian protesters.
Earlier this month, the universityexpelled several protestersit accused of disrupting a class at Barnard College.
Many protesters in the original encampment protests in April of last year were suspended.
Other students, however, are not shy about admitting how scared they are that they could be next.
Every organizer I know at Barnard specifically has had the conversation: Are we willing to lose our education?
Are we willing to lose our housing?
For international students, the risks are even higher.
Everyone in general is so scared to talk, says Renee.
The university administration has been just so brutal and draconian, its really clear whose side theyre on.
Weve given up on reporting it, Grosso says.
Its clear that they wont help us, and sometimes theyll use our reports against us.
I already lost my job over this, he says, so who cares.
I really buy into the thought that we have movements of revolution and moments of reform, says Renee.
It had, apparently, stayed between the lines.
There were no arrests.
At any time, they know now, even that small freedom can be taken away.
