USC has enforced new restrictions around the University Park Campus, with just three gates and limiting access only to students, faculty, staff and registered guests to enter.
Visitors have been greeted at USC’s gates by DPS and LAPD officers verifying affiliation with the university, since the large-scale student protests on Wednesday. An email update by USC TrojansAlert confirmed the continued restrictions, opening just three gates (McCarthy, McClintock and Watt Way) daily between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. to enter and exit the campus. Only McCarthy and McClintock will be open between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The Office of Provost said the protests organized by the USC Divest From Death Coalition “escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community” in an email on Wednesday. The students were alerted to the restrictions, noting that many of the participants were not affiliated with USC.
In another email later on Wednesday night, the Office of the Senior Vice President for Administration confirmed the campus being fully operational with restricted entry access.
The last three days have affected student movement, leaving unaware students running between gates to make it to the last week of classes.
“The other night I tried to get to class and I had to go to three different gates until I found one,” data science sophomore Andrew Brooks said. “There was even a security guard checking IDs, so I showed up like 10 minutes late to class.”
While the closures are indefinitely imposed, it has left students with negative emotions about USC’s commitment to student safety and protection on campus.
Jack Chen, an environmental studies major said, “It’s pretty frustrating to see USC taking all the security measures, even though [...] they’ve said that they can’t really do the same security measures for other reasons.”
Another student, Lucas Stevens, a sophomore in business administration, echoed that statement. “They haven’t affected me too much, but it’s annoying trying to get to class because I have to get in line and show my ID,” he said.
LAPD and DPS have encircled the campus, with officers stationed at each entrance. DPS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
USC’s measures to curb student activity on campus has seen an increase in police activity and scrutiny around the premises. The sight of patrolling officers, previously violent handling of protesting students as well as the newest restrictions on movement have left students questioning the university’s efforts.
Chen called the gate closures “pointless” and a “waste of time for everyone,” going on to say, “I don’t really think USC is handling the situation in the best way. They’re kind of confirming some of the burden onto the students, which is, again, really frustrating for us.”
USC TrojansAlert did not confirm when the gates would return to normal access. Students and faculty will have to continue squeezing in extra steps and take detours in the last few days of the academic year.