Faculty Policy Series #12A

Implementation of II, A. Freedom of Expression

  1. The University -- students, faculty, administration, and staff -- in a spirit of mutual respect and trust, commits itself to the speedy, resolute, and honest consideration of any and all reasonable demands or requests, and to the resolution of any grievance, that may be presented by any campus constituency.

    This commitment entails the responsibility of seeing to it that mutual respect and trust are not violated either by wanton acts of violence or covert delaying tactics.

  2. The University recognizes the rights of students, faculty, administrators, and staff to demonstrate peacefully and make known their grievances, requests, and demands. The University will do all in its power to protect those rights.

  3. The University -- students, faculty, administration, and staff -- expects all its constituents to exercise the right in a responsible manner, without interfering with or abrogating the rights of others within the University community. The University will do all in its power to protect this right.

  4. It is understood that ongoing negotiations on the issues that may have prompted disruption will not necessarily be halted, since some demonstrations may be seen as dramatic gestures aimed at stressing the importance and/or urgency of the issues in question.

    It is also understood that no final decision, concession nor final resolution, shall be arrived at as the result of such pressures or duress. Within our campus two forces alone shall be allowed to prevail, the force of reason and persuasion and the force of mutual trust, confidence, and loyalty.

  5. There shall be a standing committee composed of the Student Senate President or his or her delegate, the Chairperson of the University Senate Executive Committee or his or her delegate, one administrator appointed by the President, and one representative of the Security Office which, if time permits, shall act as consultant to the President and/or his or her delegate in terms of whether or not a situation has reached the point where it is appropriate to call the police or take other drastic action.

    The decision will not be a committee decision. The committee's role is purely advisory and consultative to the President or the President's delegate.

    1. If the rights of students, faculty, administration, and staff are being violated, the police may be called in (if campus police is judged not sufficient) to protect their rights. Such a situation might occur, for instance, in the case of disruption of classes, barring lawful entrance to regular classes, etc.

    2. The police may also be called in to protect the right to peaceful demonstration and assembly. Such persons as interviewers and/or representatives of business, industry, and the military, outside speakers (whether invited by students or by the University), campus organizations and their campus sympathizers shall also have their rights protected.

    3. The police will be called in to free any person or persons held against their will, but the captors shall be informed that they are subject to expulsion by the University and to possible criminal prosecution.

    4. The police may be called if actual destruction of property begins. If such a situation occurs, the students and persons involved will be informed, by whatever means, that they are subject to expulsion by the University and to possible criminal prosecution.

  7. Even in the event of police intervention, efforts to convince the disrupters to cease and desist will be carried on by student leaders, faculty, and administrators.

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FPS #12A
(rev. 1981)