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Harvard Closes Yard Because Of Demonstrations

Harvard University has closed Harvard Yard because of the Occupy demonstrations that began there Wednesday night.

Harvard says for the safety of students and student protesters, only Harvard students, faculty and staff can enter the yard.

Reaction Thursday was mixed.

"I think it's really silly, to be honest," said Laura Klein. "I can see why they are doing it, to prevent it from getting out of hand."

"Well it's an inconvenience to cut through but I think safety is an issue," said Donna Levins.

"I'm kinda bummed because, you know, who knows when I'm going to be back, but oh well," said Kathy Lopez, who came from San Diego to see Harvard and was turned away.

On Wednesday night, dozens of Harvard students set up tents in the shadow of the Ivy league school's founder to protest what they say is a growing wealth gap in the country and the university's perceived role in creating that inequality.

The establishment of the tent city Wednesday night was done in conjunction with the Occupy Wall Street protests.

The tents were set up after some tense moments when university police and security guards blocked and locked the gates to Harvard Yard to keep more than 300 protesters out.

With reporting by WBUR's Monica Brady-Myerov and The Associated Press

This article was originally published on November 10, 2011.

This program aired on November 10, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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