[Update: Negotiations Underway] Students Occupy Nelson Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt, Citing Unmet Demands

Students at Cal Poly Humboldt took over Nelson Hall on Friday after they say university administrators declined to commit to any of their demands during a morning forum, escalating a protest movement that began last week with a sit-in at Siemens Hall.

The three core demands — a true sanctuary campus policy for undocumented students and staff, divestment from Israel, war, and harmful border technologies, and advocacy for striking staff seeking honored raises at the CSU level — remain unmet, according to Rick Toledo of Students for a Democratic Society, who spoke to Redheaded Blackbelt reporter Ryan Hutson outside the building Friday afternoon.

“When we came here to negotiate this morning, we were just being talked at,” Toledo said. “They weren’t really hearing us. They were making excuses. They would not sign on to demands, they would not commit to anything.”

The forum itself was the result of an agreement reached at last Friday’s Siemens Hall sit-in, where students and administrators agreed to meet publicly in the main quad. In the days leading up to Friday, however, students say the university attempted to move the event indoors and reframe it as a “listening session” — a characterization SDS and YDSA publicly rejected on social media, insisting the meeting remain in the quad as agreed.

When the forum failed to produce any commitments from administration, students marched from the quad to Nelson Hall and began the current sit-in. As of Friday afternoon, the building was closed to the public and press were not permitted inside.

Toledo said students inside plan to remain until their demands are met. “Up until this point, they’ve talked down to people like they were children,” he said. “They’ve tried to spin the narrative and do PR control, but they have not honestly addressed these problems.”

A Voice for Inclusion

Not everyone caught up in Friday’s action was fully on board with how it unfolded. Brenda Perez, executive director of Centro del Pueblo — one of the region’s leading immigration advocacy organizations — was among those displaced from campus when cultural and academic centers in Nelson Hall and the adjoining building were closed due to the sit-in.

Perez said she supports the push for a sanctuary policy but expressed concern that the action caught immigrant advocacy groups and undocumented students off guard, at a moment when tensions in the broader community are already high.

“We want to be part of the conversation for sure,” Perez said. “I’m talking about Centro del Pueblo, but also other centers, other students impacted from different parts of the world, particularly undocumented students at the Dreamer Center.”

She called on organizers to bring advocacy groups to the table before taking action, not after. “We would like to invite movements and organizations to acknowledge the roles of immigrants in the construction of policies, to respect their voices — our voices — and also to include us in the planning, for sure, in the exchange before taking action,” she said, adding that she did not want to be included only as a token voice.

“Let’s sit at [the] same table, let’s exchange, and let’s make sure that we are working to protect the students and not the opposite,” Perez said.

Students inside Nelson Hall told Hutson that they had repeatedly asked administrators to leave the second floor of the building undisturbed, clarifying that they were occupying a single room and had no interest in the rest of the building. The closure of the entire building — including what is believed to be the cultural center on the upper floor — appeared to be an administrative decision, and may be what prompted the evacuation of Centro del Pueblo staff and others, including Perez.

Students inside also noted that bathrooms in the building had been closed off, a detail that raised questions about the conditions of the occupation and whether the full building shutdown was necessary given the limited scope of the sit-in.

The Sanctuary Debate

On the sanctuary campus question, President Richard Carvajal issued a statement Wednesday outlining existing university policy — noting that Cal Poly Humboldt does not share immigration status information without legal compulsion, does not voluntarily allow ICE into non-public areas without a judicial warrant, and that University Police will not detain or assist in investigating individuals based on immigration status alone. The statement also announced the formation of a Resilient Communities Task Force.

SDS called the statement insufficient. “While it’s nice to see that admin are finally bothering to address the demand for a sanctuary campus, we’re disappointed to see that they still haven’t truly committed to anything outlined in student demands,” the organization wrote, adding that the statement “completely ignores previous student demands for divestment and advocacy for staff at the CSU level.”

On divestment, students pushed back on the university’s claim that it holds no direct investments in defense companies or Israeli-issued securities. In a statement, SDS noted that the university acknowledged potential indirect investments amounting to less than 1% of a $54 million portfolio. “Less than 1% of $54 million is still hundreds of thousands of dollars of student tuition tied to industries that are completely unethical,” the statement read, adding that students are calling for a permanent policy commitment — not just a current allocation snapshot.

Concerns About Police

Toledo said a major concern going into the afternoon was the possibility of police intervention, citing what he described as excessive police force used during the April 2024 occupation of Seimens Hall. He called on community members to come to campus to observe and provide a visible presence outside the building.

“The police are far less likely to harm students if we have more eyes on them,” he said.

Nelson Hall remained closed Friday afternoon. No university response to the escalation had been issued at the time of publication.

Update: Protesters told reporter Ryan Hutson that Cal Poly Humboldt’s Vice President of Administration and Finance has entered into talks with those occupying Nelson Hall, and that some investment demands have been met. Redheaded Blackbelt has reached out to the university for confirmation and will update this story when a response is received.

Protestors of the CPH sit-in of Nelson Hall exit on to a veranda and lead chants with protestors outside. [Photos by Ryan Hutson]

Update: Aileen Yoo, public information representative for Cal Poly Humboldt could not confirm any agreements made at this time but did note, “Acting Vice President of Administration & Finance Mike Fisher and Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success Chrissy Holliday spoke with protestors inside Nelson Hall East and will continue to do so.”

Update 6:34 p.m.:

As talks continue between students and administrators, preparation is underway for an extended occupation of Nelson Hall including support outside the building. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

We have received a copy of what is being described as a draft of the administration’s response to ongoing talks with protesters engaged in a sit-in at Nelson Hall on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus. According to our reporter on the scene, Ryan Hutson, protesters have since responded to that draft and are now awaiting the administration’s reply to their counter-response, suggesting negotiations are actively moving.

Outside the building, the situation has taken on a longer-term character — a tent has arrived, and blankets and pillows have been passed to students inside over the railing. Roughly 20 supporters have gathered outside making signs. Snacks and balloon animals have also been delivered.

Hutson reports approximately 20 students are providing support outside Nelson Hall, making signs and providing necessities to those inside. [Photo by Ryan Hutson]

Inside, conditions remain a concern. Bathrooms in the building are still locked, and at least one protester has raised the question of whether that constitutes an ADA violation. Hutson reports that female students inside who are menstruating are unable to use the restroom without abandoning the protest and seeking a bathroom elsewhere.

With bathrooms in Nelson Hall locked by administration, protesters have resorted to using buckets to relieve themselves. [Photo provided by students inside Nelson Hall]

Letter on Immigration Enforcement Activities from Cal Poly President:

A Message from the President

February 26, 2026

Immigration Enforcement Activities and the University’s Responsibilities

Dear Lumberjacks,

Across the nation, immigration enforcement activities are causing uncertainty and concern in many communities, including our own, and I know that for some of you, the events of the last few months are deeply personal. I write to you today to remind you that, regardless of residency status or background, the University is committed to protecting our students, faculty, and staff to the full extent of state laws and California State University policies.

Here are some of those laws and policies, as outlined in the University’s Immigration Rights and Resources site:

Cal Poly Humboldt DOES NOT:

• share information with anyone—including law enforcement authorities—about immigration status, religion, nationality, ethnicity, or other information about individual students and employees without a student or employee’s permission, unless presented with a judicially issued subpoena or other legally binding requirement.
• voluntarily give permission to immigration enforcement agents to enter non-public areas without a judicial warrant, or as required by law. 
  

Cal Poly Humboldt WILL:

• alert the University community when immigration enforcement activity is confirmed on the campus.
• support students who may be detained, deported, or are unable to attend to their academic requirements due to the actions of immigration activity.

University Police WILL NOT:

• contact, detain, question, or arrest an individual solely on the basis of suspected undocumented immigration status or to discover the immigration status of any individual.
• assist federal immigration enforcement authorities in investigating, detaining, or arresting individuals for violations of federal immigration law.
• divert their resources from UPD’s mission (which is to maintain a safe and secure environment) to enforce federal immigration laws.

Immigration Enforcement Officers CAN:

• be on campus in areas open to the general public, like the University Quad, the Library, and walkways.

Reminder: If you witness immigration officers or immigration enforcement activities on campus, remain calm, do not engage with officers, and do not interfere. Contact Michelle Caisse, Interim Associate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, (707) 826-4501 or michelle.caisse@humboldt.edu; or David Hickcox, Title IX Coordinator & DHR Prevention Administrator, (707) 826-5177 or [email protected]. If neither administrator is available, contact the University Police Department at (707) 826-5555. Download the Quick Guide Flyer for reference.

Progress and Ongoing Initiatives
In response to community concerns, the University has formed the Resilient Communities Task Force. Composed of members of our campus community, the group is developing clear, actionable measures to provide support before and after any potential immigration enforcement activity. As part of this initiative, the task force championed the creation of QR code signage directing students to the Immigration Rights and Resources website. Those signs are now displayed in hundreds of classrooms across campus.

I share the concerns many of you have about the safety and well-being of every member of our community, especially our students. What sustains me through uncertainty is the dedication of our community: the students who remain committed to earning their degree despite personal challenges; the faculty who provide transformative learning experiences and mentorship; and the staff who work hard each day alongside colleagues to support our shared purpose.

We will continue to do everything we can to protect you, support you, and foster an environment where all Lumberjacks thrive.

Sincerely,

Richard Carvajal, Ph.D.
President