Statement in light of Planned Occupation of University Buildings

The University of Chicago Free Speech Alliance fully supports the right of students and faculty to peacefully demonstrate at the University of Chicago. This is an important form of expression and is protected under First Amendment standards. The University of Chicago commits to protecting free expression in the “Chicago Principles” and therefore student expression, including protests, must be allowed to continue on campus.

We also acknowledge that the university may impose legitimate time, place, and manner restrictions. Core university functions must be able to continue without impediment. As the university declared after a sit-in protest last November, “[o]ccupying a campus building disrupts University operations and imposes a single viewpoint on others, restricting their freedom in turn.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in guidance for student protest states, “[t]he First Amendment does not protect civil disobedience—nonviolent unlawful conduct undertaken intentionally as a form of protest. Examples might include occupying a campus building or participating in a “die-in” that blocks traffic on a campus street. Such forms of protest may be a violation of criminal law (e.g., trespassing or disorderly conduct) or a violation of the student conduct code, so you should be prepared to face potential punishment from either or both systems.”

We encourage students to know their free expression rights and avoid violence or other unprotected forms of expression.

Free speech does not occur at the end of a gun barrel, and the University of Chicago Free Speech Alliance urges the University administration to make it clear to the entire University community that the aggressive, sometimes violent, and intimidating protests disrupting other universities is entirely contrary to the traditions of the University of Chicago and will not be tolerated.  We urge the University to make it clear to students and faculty members that they face suspension and expulsion for egregiously violating University norms.