Battle for Our Borders
Construction to begin on wall between Columbia and Barnard
The debate over the relationship between Barnard and Columbia took a major turn on Wednesday with the an-nouncement that the University will begin building a wall across Broadway in February. President Bollinger de-scribed this as “a necessary step in preserving Columbia culture from foreign influences.”
The wall will extend from 120th Street to 114th, and Barnard students will need to apply for special papers to get across. The application process is expected to take three years. Columbia students will be allowed through with swipe access.
So far, Barnard administrators have not formally announced a policy regarding their school’s receptiveness to migrating Columbia students.
“I hate Columbia,” said Dean Dorothy Denburg. “But they have all the math books. So we have to be shrewd here.”
The wall has met a mixed response within the Columbia community. Some students, tired of strong Barnard women infiltrating their organizations with no intention of assimilating, have vowed to guard the wall themselves if necessary. Committed groups include Korean Campus Crusade for Christ, the Kingsmen, and the Chicano Caucus.
Many Barnard women have expressed concerns that the wall is elitist and bigoted. Mamie Franklin, BC ‘07, has organized a group called Women Without Borders that will march around and blow whistles “until the rich white men leave their ivory tower, or we knock it down.” Wall proponents are not amused.
“This is not about snobbery,” said Preston Kingsberry III, CC ‘09. “It’s about following the rules and preserv-ing real boundaries.”
Community members within Morningside have expressed concerns about the safety of the wall, as well as its effectiveness.
“How we supposed to turn left without crashing into it?” asked local mechanic Howard James. “And couldn’t them women just walk around the edges of the wall? What the hell, man?”
Bollinger has stated that, although he acknowledges that the community exists, he will ignore it.