Hours into an ongoing sit-in by Vanderbilt Divestment Coalition members at Kirkland Hall, the press — including student journalists — continue to be denied access to the building. A Nashville Scene reporter, Eli Motycka, was also arrested by VUPD while reporting on the sit-in.

After being arrested at around 1:30 p.m. CDT for alleged attempted trespassing at Kirkland Hall, Motycka was later released and police returned him to campus at around 4 p.m. CDT. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk told the Scene that he will not press charges against Motycka or any reporter “for peacefully doing his or her job.” Motycka was not charged with a crime due to Judicial Magistrate Timothy Lee of the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County General Sessions Court not finding probable cause to hear Vanderbilt’s charges against him.

Motycka added that he is unsure whether he will be arrested if he returns to campus to continue reporting on the sit-in. In a statement to The Hustler, the university claimed that Motycka was warned multiple times before he was detained. Motycka denied being warned by officers before his arrest.

“I was very surprised to be put in handcuffs,” Motycka said. “I certainly didn’t get a clear warning that I was going to be arrested, and I didn’t really hear any officers say anything about trespassing.”

In a statement to The Hustler, a university representative said Motycka was arrested for repeatedly trying to enter Kirkland Hall, claiming the building was “closed for ongoing construction.” The statement later modifies the status of the building operation, stating that the building is “closed to the public for ongoing construction.”

University representatives have denied The Hustler’s requests to allow student reporters and photographers into Kirkland Hall, claiming it is closed due to construction. The university previously told The Hustler that renovations were done in February. Furthermore, on March 19, The Hustler interviewed Chancellor Diermeier at Kirkland Hall, and the construction site is listed as complete on the FutureVU website. A university representative previously told The Hustler that, once Kirkland Hall’s renovations were complete, it would be open to Vanderbilt community members “with business in the building.” The university representative also previously stated to The Hustler that Kirkland Hall was resuming full business operations in mid-February 2024 after its renovations. Signs on Kirkland Hall’s doors state that the building is closed for construction and access is prohibited by anyone but those with offices in the building. Vanderbilt employees have been seen leaving the building at the end of the work day.

This story was originally published on The Vanderbilt Hustler on March 26, 2024.