Colbert and Ma exit Harvard event after fire alarm

Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma left a Harvard University event Thursday after a fire alarm cut the program short. The two performers had been accused of crossing a union picket line to appear at the lecture, which drew criticism from striking graduate students.

The alarm sounded approximately 40 minutes into the sold-out session at Sanders Theatre. The discussion, titled "Arts for Life's Sake," was scheduled to run for 90 minutes but did not resume after the evacuation. Harvard Magazine reported that the cause of the alarm remains unclear.

Members of the Harvard Graduate Students Union, on strike since October 27, protested outside the theater. About 50 demonstrators beat drums and sounded air horns during the event. The union had contacted both performers in advance, including through their labor organizations, to ask them to cancel or relocate the appearance.

Colbert, who joined the Writers Guild of America picket line in 2023, and Ma proceeded with the event. The union stated that the performers did not withdraw their names from the program despite repeated requests. "They continued the event inside without regard for the picket line, and refused to speak with union members as they left the event," the union said in a statement.

The strike centers on compensation and workplace protections for research assistants and teaching fellows. The union seeks annual pay of $55,000 for research assistants and roughly $45,000 for teaching fellows on 10-month appointments. It also demands 3% annual raises or cost-of-living adjustments. Additional demands include an independent grievance process for harassment complaints and legal fee assistance in Title IX cases.

The union also seeks specific protections for workers with sensitive immigration documents. These include guaranteed leave for visa delays and a requirement that Harvard notify the union if Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrive on campus. The union wants the university to require a judicial warrant before cooperating with ICE.

Author John Green moved his scheduled Harvard appearance online to avoid crossing the picket line. He donated the proceeds from the event to the union. "They're on strike and I had to move a thing to not cross a picket line," Green said in a video shared by the union.