Carnegie Mellon restricts protests, demonstrations in updated policy

Protests, rallies and other expressive events at Carnegie Mellon University with 25 or more participants must be registered in advance or officials may prevent or disband the gathering and weigh sanctions against its organizers.

The language comes from an updated policy on such demonstrations that senior leaders notified campus of as classes began this week. The move by Carnegie Mellon follows disruptive spring encampments on many campuses over the Israel-Hamas war and concerns that gatherings might resume this fall.

The revised policy at Carnegie Mellon is drawing criticism from some. In a social media post, one student called it a totalitarian move.

At the University of Pittsburgh, where the second of two pro-Palestinian encampments ended in scuffles with officers outside the Cathedral of Learning, campus police this summer underwent field force training and instruction on the First Amendment, Pitt spokesman Jared Stonesifer said Monday.

Officials at both universities insist they are committed to balancing the right of free expression with keeping their campuses safe.

In a university-wide message Friday, Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel said the university had created a new website that brings together various policies involving rights, expectations and rules.

In addition, free speech, discourse and dialogue were blended into events tied to Welcome Week programming for students.

“With a new semester starting, I’m reminded of a quote from Thomas Edison: ‘The value of an idea lies in the using of it,’ ” Gabel wrote. “In this spirit, we renew our commitment to an educational environment that welcomes debate across a wide range of perspectives.”

At Carnegie Mellon, tents, encampments and structures built or used for the purposes of establishing and maintaining occupation of campus space are prohibited, Provost James H. Garrett Jr. and Gina Casalegno, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, wrote in Sunday’s campus message.

The intent of the updated expressive activity registration procedures are to ensure coordination with the university and support the conditions for civil and safe exchange, they said.

“As we strive to thoughtfully engage with each other around contentious topics, it is incumbent upon all of us to create the conditions for both respectful discourse and campus safety, and to continuously nurture a culture of belonging and inclusion,” their message stated.

An event that does not follow procedures will be considered not registered, the message said.

“Should such occur, the university will make a discretionary decision as to whether it is in the best interest of campus safety, security and operations to prevent or disband the event, or not, and whether any Carnegie Mellon faculty, staff, student or organization involved in providing leadership for organizing and executing such unregistered event should be subject to conduct review.

“It is our aspiration that all community members will embrace the university’s commitment to campus safety, security and operations as expressed through these procedures, and therefore uphold them.”

The university’s updaterefers to a 1988 policy on free expression, updated temporarily in 2017 to require that outdoor gatherings by those not affiliated with Carnegie Mellon adhere to registration requirements.

“Students, faculty and staff will still enjoy normal use of outdoor campus spaces,” university policy states.

This month, the Philadelphia-based Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said summer had brought an uptick in inquiries from institutions seeking advice as they update their speech and safety policies.

In some cases, officials weighed where protests should be permitted, ensuring organizers meet specific requirements and are tied to sanctioned student groups, Ryan Ansloan, senior program officer for policy reform with FIRE, told TribLive.

On Oct. 7, a terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel killed 1,200 people, and the ensuing military campaign by Israel in Gaza has killed tens of thousands more. On campuses across the U.S., emotions on all sides have been raw, among those involved in demonstrations and others concerned about speech rights.

On Sunday, Jimmy Lizama, 26, a doctoral student from Silver Springs, Md., reacted on X to the updated registration rules, calling them “a decidedly totalitarian move.”

In an interview Monday, he expressed concern that it will “chill expression and add to the reluctance of students and others to attach themselves to an event as an organizer or supporter.”

“I think it’s a disappointing and hypocritical policy,” said Lizama, who is studying rhetoric with a focus on democratic dialogue. “The policy is inconsistent with the university’s commitment to free speech for sure, and more broadly, the country’s ideals regarding democratic deliberation.”

He pointed to the American Association of University Professors’ Aug. 14 statement criticizing policies that require registration as being among hastily enacted, overly restrictive policies dealing with the rights to assemble and protest on campus.

Carnegie Mellon spokesman Peter Kerwin did not immediately respond to a question about the AAUP statement. Earlier, he further clarified the intent behind the updated procedures.

“In these times of heightened convictions, we are emphasizing and clarifying our policies on expressive activity to ensure safety and protect the rights of our students, faculty and staff,” he said. “We encourage CMU community members to speak out on matters important to them while engaging in civil discourse and promoting safety for all.”