Opponents of the construction of TransCanada's controversial Keystone XL pipeline took their fight to the company's offices last week, resulting in the arrest of two Brandeis students, one alum and five other Boston area students in Westborough, Mass. on Jan. 7.

Lisa Purdy '14, Dorian Williams '13, Shea Riester '12 and five other protestors were charged with "being a disorderly person, disturbing the peace and trespassing" after chaining themselves to each other and super gluing their hands in the company's office to protest the construction of the company's Keystone XL pipeline, according to a Jan. 7 Boston Globe article. They were released a few hours later on $40 bail each.

The Keystone XL would be an extension to a pipeline that pumps crude oil from Alberta, Canada to the Midwest, according to the article, specifically transporting tar sands in Canada to oil refineries in Texas. Supporters of Keystone XL construction claim that the project would be beneficial for the American economy, providing 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs. Those against it argue that that the project will not generate nearly as many jobs as promised and that more jobs would be created with clean energy investments. They also fear that construction of the pipeline could have severe environmental consequences.

The procedure was thoroughly planned, said Riester in an interview with the Justice. The eight who were arrested were accompanied by supporters and friends who were in contact with media outlets and lawyers. "The planning was really key, covered all bases in terms of legal support and media, and knowing the logistics about ... being locked down," said Riester. According to a Metro Desk article, Jacklyn Gil '14 served as a coordinator for the protest.

The protesters, made up of the eight who were arrested and three supporters, split up into three groups, said Purdy in an interview with the Justice. At 2 p.m., the first group entered the front entrance of the building and waited in a bathroom, pretending to be TransCanada employees. At 2:02, the remaining two groups arrived through different entrances.

The three groups then met up on the third floor and one supporter entered the office first and announced to the secretary that they would be holding a "peaceful protest" in the office. The rest of the protesters entered the office, according to Purdy, and were equipped with heavy chains around their waists that connected each person with large bike locks. The protesters also linked chains around their legs, secured them with a shackle and then used super glue to connect their hands.

"The [secretary] was obviously displeased. She was just like 'no no no, this is not ok.'" said Riester. "It took us less than a minute to lockdown, and the police came around ten minutes later."

According to Purdy, the protesters were individually members of 350MA and Students for a Just and Stable Future, organizations that advocate for environmental sustainability, but chose not to represent any official organization. The latter is also a group at Brandeis that operates under the club Students for Environmental Action.

In their manifesto online at january7th.wordpress.com, the protesters outlined their mission:

"Today, we hope to present our political leaders with an example of the courage needed to confront the climate crisis by putting our bodies in the way of corporations whose activities threaten our society. Today, we add our peaceful civil disobedience to an accelerating tidal wave of actions, from the farmlands of rural Texas to the steps of the White House, as people across the nation rise up together."

"According to leading NASA Climatologist James Hansen, burning the tar sands would cause us to hit 2 degrees of atmospheric warming thereby ensuring climate catastrophe," wrote Williams in an email to the Justice, referring to a May 9 op-ed Hansen wrote for the New York Times.

President Barack Obama has yet to make a decision on whether or not he will approve construction of the pipeline that would cross the Canadian-American border.

In the meantime, construction on the southern portion has begun in Texas, sparking protests. In an email to the Justice, Williams wrote that she and the protesters "were so inspired and empowered by what the folks down in Texas were doing and risking to prevent the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline." However, instead of traveling to Texas, they decided to show their solidarity in Massachusetts.

According to Williams in an email to the Justice, this is her fourth arrest for protesting for environmental causes. "I felt it was incredibly important to participate in this action because radical climate change will fundamentally alter how we are able to live and thrive on this planet," she wrote.

For both Purdy and Riester, this is the first. "I decided to risk arrest in this way because I knew I was a part of something larger," wrote Purdy.

"Our goal was to show other young people that this is something anyone can do; anyone can stand up to these reckless corporations and demand they stop doing what they are doing," said Riester. "What they are doing is affecting our generation and our children's, and we have to act. We are the ones we are waiting for. That is the central message."

The students plan to hold a follow-up event this Friday at 7 p.m. in Mandel G12 to discuss student activism and climate action.

-Tali Smookler contributed reporting.