Harvard Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma Talk Ends After Fire Alarm

A fire alarm interrupted a discussion featuring Stephen Colbert and cellist Yo-Yo Ma at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre on Thursday, prompting an evacuation and ending the event before it could resume. The Harvard Graduate Students Union was picketing outside as part of its strike, but the union denied responsibility for the alarm, whose cause remains unidentified.

The discussion, titled “Arts for Life’s Sake,” was part of a Harvard visiting artist series. Colbert and Ma were taking audience questions when the alarm sounded, according to reports. The audience was sent home after firefighters responded, and the planned 90-minute event did not continue. Reports placed the interruption roughly 35 to 40 minutes into the discussion.

Cambridge Assistant Fire Chief Scott Volz said firefighters investigated and found no reason for the alarm’s activation. The union said the alarm was unrelated to its picketing and that it did not know what caused it. Neither account establishes what triggered the alarm.

Union members had urged Colbert and Ma to cancel, postpone or move the event off campus while workers were on strike. The union said it contacted the performers in advance, including...