“Wired but Tired”: Life Inside the Fanning Occupation

Photos courtesy of an anonymous occupier

On Day 2 of the fourth Fanning occupation, The College Voice had the privilege of speaking with six occupiers via Zoom during the snowy afternoon. With students constructing snowmen and snow-camels right outside the building, the protest had a different feel to the prior sunny day. Nonetheless, nestled in their new classroom-turned-living space, Annika Brown ‘23, Aria Mendhekar ‘23, Beatrice Voorhees ‘23, Harry Steinharter ‘23, Jordan Barbagallo ‘23, and an anonymous junior opened up about the start of their occupation.

The six students were careful about only discussing their individual and small group experiences, avoiding speaking on behalf of all approximately 30 occupiers. The College Voice will not reveal an exact number of occupants for their safety and at the request of student protesters, including Student Voices for Equity leaders.

In the cover of darkness on the evening of Feb. 26, students and supplies entered Fanning in small groups. Brown recalled, “The initial plan was to move in at midnight, but I think we started moving around 10, 10:30 p.m,” ahead of schedule. This decision worked out in their favor, as Campus Safety arrived on the scene just as students began locking themselves on the fourth floor, chaining and barricading the doors. The students quietly hid in classrooms and bathrooms as officers entered the building; simultaneously, students across campus began honking horns, shouting, and making as much noise as possible in central and western sections of campus to create a diversion for the officers. Barbagallo remembered, “We were crouching behind windows, lowering blinds, and whispering […] so no one could find us. [Campus Safety] probably knew we were there at that point.” Brown added, “My fear was that campus safety would find what room we were in and tell us to leave, but they couldn’t physically make us do that.”

When the night settled, diversion cacophony dispersed, and officers left the premises; the occupiers were still processing the high-stress move-in process. “That first night […] everyone’s adrenaline was pumping and we were also simultaneously amped up and exhausted,” said Steinharter. Voorhees added, “It was really hard to sleep,” and Brown concurred: “I was wired but tired.” The six friends share a classroom living space, and they said that despite not knowing many of the other occupiers, they bonded quickly during that first eventful night.

The next morning, they awoke with varying degrees of restfulness. Brown only got about four hours of sleep before a check-in meeting with SVE at 9 a.m. on Feb. 27. When protesters, including hundreds of students with some faculty and staff, arrived outside Fanning in the late morning, for the first time, the occupiers saw their impact on the greater campus community. “I think that morale definitely went up when the protesters were outside,” said Barbagallo. “I feel personally, and I think other people in the group would agree, that it felt safer in here having everyone out there. During the night it was really scary. [I was] freaking out. I know I thought that [campus safety] was going to come rush in. But when I woke up and all the protesters were outside and friends were walking by and waving at us, it felt like, ‘ok, we’re here. They’re not going to kick us out.’”

Brown said, “It was nice to see the support between the concert and the protest yesterday. It felt good that the outside world cared as much as we cared. So I think for as long as the protests on the outside and everyone stays involved on the outside, our spirits — well at least my spirits — will remain pretty high because I feel supported.” She added that when a friend texted asking how they could get involved and help, Brown advised, “Just make sure support stays going, because I will lose some steam otherwise.”

“There’s only 30 of us, so it looks like only 30 people are doing anything, although we know that’s not the case. But it’s nice when you see [that] it’s not just 30 people, it’s everyone and the campus,” said Barbagallo. The group recalled a glittery sign held up to a window that read, “Staff supports you.” Mendhekar said that faculty and staff support has “been really meaningful, at least to me and I think the people in this room, that we’re supported not only by students but also by people who work at the school.” 

Staff have also bought snacks for students in support. In general, food deliveries have been well-received by occupiers. Lunch and dinner, cooked and delivered by fellow student protesters organized by SVE, have been deemed “better than Harris,” with highlights including a delicious “burrito-noodle-salad thing” and pizza. In their shared room, they stocked up with boxes of Kraft mac-and-cheese and hundreds of instant oatmeal packets, which they prepared with a kettle and microwave they brought into the occupation.

Despite claims on YikYak that occupiers must smell and that Fanning will have to be aired out for weeks, Brown says that they have kept up basic hygiene and use Febreeze often. An avid outdoor adventurer herself, she said, “It’s like backpacking with running water and heat!” Voorhees added, “We’ve been taking a lot of sink showers, and Mendhekar chimed in: “Baby wipes and soap!” Voorhees concluded, “It’s like a little adventure, but honestly, I’m quite clean at this moment.”

The group has been playing card games, board games, and video games to help pass the time, but they imagined that occupying the building without internet, like in past Fanning Protests, would be challenging. They are grateful to be able to keep up with work, communicate with professors, and stay in touch with family and friends. “We’ve been doing some homework, catching up on things,” said Steinharter. “Most professors have been very lenient, like extending deadlines or delaying projects.” Brown shared that she, Steinharter, and Voorhees are each also completing honors theses, and they said the time away from regular classes and homework helps them progress with their research.

More importantly, what does one binge-watch during a protest occupation? “Floribama Shore!” BV and AM excitedly said in unison. As they discussed watching the reality TV successor to Jersey Shore together on the classroom projector, the group marveled in wonder about the underclassmen occupiers who would potentially return to the same classrooms they currently inhabit. What will it be like to go to class in their former living spaces?

Overall, the students feel safe and have their basic needs met to safely continue protesting. Brown said, “I am very grateful for our leadership of SVE. They make us feel so safe. They are always checking in with us asking our opinions [and are] very responsive. I can text someone and know I’ll get a response. They’re always on call, 24/7.” For example, during their first night in Fanning, they realized that the heat was significantly lowered at night, so SVE spoke to facilities to ensure the building was kept at a healthy temperature. The anonymous junior also remarked, “We had concerns last night for whatever reason, and there were five people instantly at the door [saying], ‘How can we help? What do you need?’” 

The occupiers fill out daily questionnaires from the Archives to document their experiences. Minnie Madden ‘26, currently the Archives Liaison for The College Voice, has ensured, along with other student workers, that this occupation is well documented. 

In addition to this group of six, two other occupiers provided The College Voice with comments.

Alex Kowal said, “Night one was extremely stressful because we had to move way faster and way earlier than we originally thought we did. We heard that campo was chasing students away from their planned buildings, so we were even more on edge. After packing everyone in, we slapped the locks on and began organizing all of our supplies. We have designated floors and rooms for class work, zoom, food, entertainment, and meeting space. 

The biggest issue we have faced so far is that many photographers and journalists have been extremely disrespectful toward members of the protest. On several occasions we have been photographed and posted without consent. Certain news outlets have also made claims about us that are certainly untrue. This is, and will continue to be, a student organized peaceful protest. We are not breaking into anyone’s office. We are simply occupying the Fanning building until the demands are met. We have immeasurable hope.” 

Leo Franceschi ‘26 also said, ““It felt really great to see students yesterday interacting with us through windows and doors. I’m super grateful for the constant coverage from TCV giving us info from outside that I normally wouldn’t have known from social media. So far all my professors have been completely understanding and in support, some directly telling me they’re attending the rally tomorrow and giving credit to students who also do so. As far as moral boosters, the MOBROC show was a blast and we are all getting along inside too, watching movies and playing board games!”

As the occupation continues indefinitely, The College Voice will work with SVE to continue checking in with the occupiers wellbeing and livestyles on the inside of the protests.