Columbia University suspends press access on campus amid pro-Palestine protests

Columbia University banned media access on its campus Tuesday as pro-Palestine protests continue.

"Media access to campus is suspended. Campus is accessible only to CUID-holders and essential personnel as a safety measure and that includes media," read an announcement on the university website.

The university also revealed that early Tuesday morning, "a group of protestors occupied Hamilton Hall on the Morningside campus of Columbia University."

To protect the safety of the community during the "protest activity," the university said it has asked students and faculty to "avoid coming to the Morningside campus to do so; essential personnel should report to work according to university policy."

The university also said that "access to campus has been limited to students residing in residential buildings on campus and employees who provide essential services to campus buildings, labs, and residential student life."

Columbia University administers the Pulitzer Prize for journalism and houses the Global Free Expression Center.