Day 10: 237 Hours in Fanning

Photo courtesy of Zoe Dubelier ’23

After over 200 hours of occupation, the 2023 Fanning Takeover has concluded. Over spring break, SVE will continue to work with staff and faculty to meet their demands. SVE is not opposed to re-occupying Fanning after break if demands are not met. But for now, here are the daily updates from the last day of occupation. 

Lunch: Occupiers enjoy homemade tamales for lunch.

12:00 p.m: Staff gather outside of Harris in solidarity of SVE demands and to protest the lack of staff involvement in shared governance. TCV editors interview staff about their reasons for attending the protest and thoughts on how the institution should proceed. 

12:15 p.m: Staff gather for a photo and one staff member speaks out publicly to address the group’s cause. 

12:57 p.m: 93% of faculty voted no confidence in President Bergeron’s leadership, with 11 voting confident and 8 abstaining. This is the largest vote of no confidence in the College’s history, and concretely shows that the faculty stands with SVE and their demands. 

3:00 p.m: Students in Fanning give live-streamed testimonials since those occupying Fanning did not have an opportunity to share their stories publicly yet. Initially, their testimonials were meant to be read to Katherine Bergeron in a meeting between herself and the occupiers. When learning the meeting would be live-streamed/recorded for posterity and transcribed to help with accessibility, she declined the meeting. SVE decided to go ahead with the testimonial readings anyway, giving those on the outside an opportunity to hear from voices on the inside. 

Afternoon: Fanning occupiers finish a 1000-piece puzzle they had been working on that they started last night. Occupiers and Team Occupy spent a long time cleaning up the building and making sure it is fit for normal action again tomorrow. 

7:10 p.m: After 10 days of occupation, occupiers leave running through a Fanning Occupation 2023 banner in celebration. Occupiers embrace with their friends and classmates who they have not seen in days. 

7:15 p.m: Occupiers and their friends parade to Cro where the festivities will continue. 

7:40 p.m: All those involved in Occupy Conn Coll 2023 gather in Cro in the 1962 room to celebrate the end of the occupation. People print their hands on canvas to celebrate and remember their involvement in the takeover. People dance, eat food, and reconnect after days apart. 

8:15 p.m: Justin Wolfadt, interim Vice President of the Administration, writes to Connecticut College Community members that effective Thursday, Mar. 9, business will resume in Fanning Hall.