The story so far
written Sep 29What is happening
The legal status of public access to Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus depends on a New York State Supreme Court challenge regarding a 1953 easement [4][5]. The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani filed a court document in September 2026 supporting residents and students who seek to reopen the 116th Street and Broadway gates [5]. This filing reversed the city's previous neutral stance in the litigation [5]. The lawsuit claims the university's ongoing closure of the campus pathway, known as College Walk, violates an agreement designating the area as public space [4][5].
What to watch
A ruling from the New York State Supreme Court on the right-of-way claim would determine if the university must restore public access. A formal request from the New York City Mayor’s Office to the university or a vote by the Columbia University Board of Trustees on the public-access proposal would also address the restrictions. The physical reopening of the gates would restore neighborhood mobility through the campus.
A university spokeswoman stated the school will respond to the latest legal filings in court [5].
Read the full brief · how we got here
How we got here
Columbia University restricted campus access to ID-card holders in 2023 following pro-Palestinian protests [3][4]. Residents and students filed a lawsuit against the university in 2025 to contest the closure [5]. On September 7, 2026, University President Jennifer Mnookin issued an email regarding student access as the school entered its third year of restricted entry [4]. Community members and elected officials held a fifth protest rally at the campus gates on September 8, 2026 [3][4].
References · 3
- [3]abc7ny.com — Columbia University's Morningside Heights campus access restrictions draw renewed criticism - ABC7 New York
- [4]westsiderag.com — Morningside Heights Community Members Protest the Ongoing Closure of ...
- [5]nytimes.com — New York City Supports Push to Reopen Columbia Pathway to the Public
What would close this
0 of 4 metTimeline
newest firstWhen we started following: Mamdani administration backs reopening Columbia campus as university returns to access committee
The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani has formally supported the restoration of public access to Columbia University’s Morningside campus in a Manhattan Supreme Court filing [3]. This move reverses the previous city administration's support for the closure, which began in October 2023 following pro-Palestinian protests [3]. While the university maintains final authority over its gates, Columbia’s president announced on September 7, 2026, that the institution is taking "initial steps" to progressively increase access while balancing safety concerns [2].
On September 8, 2026, the university returned to its campus access committee to address growing calls for reopening [1]. These developments follow the October 2025 launch of a neighbor access program, which requires residents of Morningside Heights and West Harlem to apply for identification-based entry [5]. A class action lawsuit regarding the closure remains a factor in the dispute, with the university declining to comment on the pending legal matter as of September 4, 2026 [3][5].
When we started following: New York City joins lawsuit to reopen Columbia University gates, citing 1953 public access agreement
New York City has formally supported a legal effort to reopen Columbia University’s Morningside Heights campus to the public, according to a September 2026 court filing in New York State Supreme Court [5]. The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani reversed the city's previous neutral stance, siding with residents and students who sued the university in 2025 [5]. The lawsuit argues that the ongoing closure of the 116th Street and Broadway gates violates a 1953 easement agreement that designated the campus pathway, known as College Walk, as public space [4][5].
Columbia University has restricted campus access to ID-card holders since 2023 following pro-Palestinian protests [3][4]. On September 7, 2026, University President Jennifer Mnookin issued an email regarding student access as the school entered its third year of restricted entry [4]. Community members and elected officials, including City Council Majority Leader Shaun Abreu, held a fifth rally at the campus gates on September 8, 2026, to protest the impact of the closures on neighborhood mobility [3][4]. A university spokeswoman stated the school would respond to the legal filings in court [5].