UPDATE, 3:04 p.m.: Mike Fisher, the university’s president for administration and finance, is inside talking with the activists now. Meanwhile, a bit of a crowd has gathered outside.

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ORIGINAL POST:

This morning, following a meeting scheduled with Cal Poly Humboldt administration, masked student activists occupied Nelson Hall, demanding that the university “divest from war and genocide, implement a true sanctuary policy and honor Teamster raises.”

The building has been locked down, with no one able to come in its main entrances. (Though people may freely leave.) An activist speaking out of a window tells the Outpost’s Dezmond Remington that they estimate there to be about a couple of dozen people inside.

A Facebook post from the Lumberjack, the student newspaper, shows that a cache of food and drink has been delivered to the students inside.

As of a few moments ago, the protesters were focusing on a more urgent demand: that the administration unlock the building’s bathrooms.

‘Unlock the bathrooms!’

The occupation, of course, echoes the occupation of the campus’ Siemens Hall in 2024, which lasted a little over a week.

Standing outside the building, Ryder Dschida, a history professor and the president of the local chapter of the California Faculty Association, told the Outpost that he was there to observe.

“CFA stands with SDS [Students for a Democratic Society] and their right to exercise free speech,” he said. “CFA also understands it does not want campus activities like classes to be disrupted. So we’re just trying to figure it out right now as it stands, but I do want to say that we stand in solidarity with SDS and their action in support of Palestinian suffering in Gaza.”

Cal Poly Humboldt issued a statement on the situation in response to an Outpost inquiry:

This morning, University leadership had a conversation with concerned students and community members. After a sit-in on the quad, protestors moved into Nelson Hall East. The building is currently locked and entrance is not allowed. While the University fully supports the right of individuals to peacefully express their views, it is equally important that we maintain a disruption-free environment for all students, staff, and faculty to learn and work.

The Free Speech Support & Resource Team and University leadership are actively engaged with the protestors involved to resolve the situation as quickly and peacefully as possible.

Poster shared on social media in the run-up to today’s events.