Since Columbia is private property…

As I followed the drama over the past week, the often repeated explanation about the police not going on campus was because Columbia was private property and the police had no authority to set foot on campus unless requested by Columbia administration, and since no request came the police had to remain off campus. Until … things got out of hand and some students or whoevers took possession of one of their buildings and fortified the doors.The administration then called the police. The police responded with overwhelming force, retook control of the building and arrested a number of students and whoevers.

The cost for that police response must be staggering. It likely included overtime hours for some, dozens of police vehicles and unique equipment that allowed them to gain entry via upper story windows.

Considering that Columbia was/is a privately owned area with its own non-public streets and sidewalks, and responsible for its own security, shouldn’t the cost for police intervention be the responsibility of the university and not the city of New York?