On Oct. 12, 2023, Columbia University closed its gates.

The ornate, iron fences were an $89,000 gift from the philanthropist George Delacorte. For years, their purpose was largely decorative, closing sporadically for special occasions. Most other times, they remained open, and members of the public could enter freely, sit on a bench and traverse the campus to get to the No. 1 train. The gates were mere emblems of exclusivity and elitism, of the wealthy and powerful whose names adorn the university’s buildings.