Following the layoff of 77 staff members over the summer, students report feeling increasingly unsafe in dorm spaces once overseen by access attendants. The transition to ID-only entry has exposed gaps in security and strained the sense of community many rely on.

The rally was followed by a larger picket at 57th Street where Rowan, the CEO of Apollo Global Management, was expected to speak at the firm’s New York City headquarters.

As the federal government shutdown persists, its consequences stretch to New York City. From travel delays to housing, Barnard and Columbia students are feeling the ripple effects of Washington’s unwillingness to compromise.