NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - A reporter was arrested and several students have been suspended after a protest at Vanderbilt University’s administration building.
Eli Motycka, a reporter with the Nashville Scene, was reportedly arrested by Vanderbilt University Police while covering the student protests at Kirkland Hall.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, the university said Motycka was attempting to enter Kirkland Hall, which has been closed to the public for several weeks due to construction.
“He was informed by university police that the building was closed and was asked to leave several times,” the university said in a statement. “After repeated attempts to enter the building, he was detained.”
Several students received letters from the university stating they had been placed on “interim suspension, effective immediately, pending further investigation and an accountability meeting.”
Scene reporter Eli Motycka (@ejmotycka) was arrested by Vanderbilt police while reporting on student protests. pic.twitter.com/5HPcRHtI7H
— Nashville Scene (@NashvilleScene) March 26, 2024
The university sent a revised statement on Tuesday night on what had occurred earlier in the day.
“Early this morning a group of students breached the university’s main administration building that was closed for ongoing construction and clearly marked as such. Some students physically assaulted a Community Service Officer to gain entrance and proceeded to push staff members who offered to meet with them.
“Student Affairs staff took a graduated approach to de-escalate the situation. First, they asked students to leave. After the students refused to leave, staff made them aware their actions violated university policy and that they would be subject to disciplinary action. After several hours, the university began issuing interim suspensions. Students on interim suspension must leave campus immediately and may not return until further notice, pending the Student Affairs review process.”
In the later statement, the university claimed Motycka was detained outside the building after making repeated attempts to enter several doors and being asked to leave.
A spokesperson for Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk said Motycka would not be facing charges.
“This office will not prosecute a reporter for peacefully doing his or her job,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement.
Vanderbilt said the protest is an evolving situation, “and we will keep our community informed as there are new developments.”
“Free expression is a core value at Vanderbilt, as is civil discourse. Our policies allow for members of the Vanderbilt community to protect and demonstrate regarding issues they care about. Dozens of peaceful demonstrations have occurred over the past several months. In consideration of safety and the university’s normal operations, we, as a matter of policy, define time, place and manner limitations. The safety and well-being of our community is a top priority. The university will take action when our policies are violated, the safety of our campus is jeopardized and when people intimidate or injure members of our community,” the university said.
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