Cambridge, Occupied
Harvard Yard remains closed as "Occupy Harvard" student protests continue. By day, the gates are heavily guarded by campus police and private security. By night, all gates are padlocked, save for one tiny gate defended by 2-3 guards.
It's quite disturbing to see Harvard Yard closed to the public, since it's been major pedestrian thoroughfare for years (including being part of the direct route from Harvard Square to my neighborhood). Maybe it's just considering the sorts of situations for which one would expect the Yard to be closed (martial law, violent crime spree, general anarchy). Or maybe it's considering the fact that there's no such threat, that Harvard is merely trying to curtail the free speech of some students. Are they that afraid of the students? That afraid that Harvard Square's wide variety of campers might relocate some hundred yards or so given the presence of a tent city on campus proper? The former is perhaps a more reasonable worry.
So far, Harvard Square remains relatively calm, but Harvard's barred gates create quite an ominous mood.
It's quite disturbing to see Harvard Yard closed to the public, since it's been major pedestrian thoroughfare for years (including being part of the direct route from Harvard Square to my neighborhood). Maybe it's just considering the sorts of situations for which one would expect the Yard to be closed (martial law, violent crime spree, general anarchy). Or maybe it's considering the fact that there's no such threat, that Harvard is merely trying to curtail the free speech of some students. Are they that afraid of the students? That afraid that Harvard Square's wide variety of campers might relocate some hundred yards or so given the presence of a tent city on campus proper? The former is perhaps a more reasonable worry.
So far, Harvard Square remains relatively calm, but Harvard's barred gates create quite an ominous mood.