EMU Demonstration Guidelines
- Jonathan Swartz
At EMU, we affirm and support our shared responsibility to look beyond ourselves and envision a better and more just future for all. We remain committed to nurturing an environment that is conducive to learning and provides our university community with the opportunity to critically engage with a diversity of viewpoints. The Academic Freedom Policy sets forth that EMU is committed to maintaining a community of learning where all members ‐‐ employees and students ‐‐ are free to pursue truth in all disciplines and modes of inquiry, and are protected from internal or external influences that would restrict them from the responsible exercise of truth‐seeking.
We recognize that academic freedom — characterized by respect, listening, and thoughtful communication — is fundamental to our mission of educating future leaders, innovators, and citizens. While discomfort and conflict may result, we encourage our community to engage in a respectful and in constructive exchange of ideas that reflects our values as an inclusive and supportive community.
Engaging in academic freedom may involve organizing a demonstration. A demonstration is an event at which an individual or group of individuals gather to raise awareness about, or express a viewpoint on, an issue or cause. Examples of demonstrations may include, but are not limited to, assemblies, marches, picketing, protests, counter-protests, or sit-ins.
Issues of speech and expression on campus are often thought-provoking, challenging and complicated. Like the EMU Political Activity and Endorsement policy for events of a political nature, officially recognized student or employee organizations may host speakers or other events on campus that other members of the community find offensive or derogatory. Below are suggestions for expressing your message when you disagree with a speaker or event:
Share your concern with the event sponsor (e.g., the student organization, academic department, or other group).
Contact your representatives in the student government, staff council or faculty senate.
Form a coalition of like-minded others and work with your representing organizations to affect change within the university community.
Start a petition.
Organize a teach-in with faculty members.
Lend support, reassurance, and empathy to students and other campus community members who may be hurt by offensive messages.
Events, including demonstrations, that require a space reservation must be registered ahead of time. This includes events held inside campus facilities or outside on campus grounds. Spaces requiring reservations on campus include all indoor and outdoor properties owned, maintained, or managed by EMU including classrooms, meeting rooms, all spaces inside the University Commons, Thomas Plaza, the Discipleship Center.
For demonstrations not requiring a space reservation, it is encouraged that student organizations work with both their faculty/staff advisor, as well as the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership Development (SELD) regarding the event. Staff from SELD can be instrumental in helping student organizations ensure a successful event congruent with the guidelines set forward in this document and other university policies. All demonstrations and other similar events on or adjacent to campus must be orderly and peaceful.
Such events:
May not impede passage in or out of any facility on university-owned and -maintained roadway or pathway.
May not create excessive noise (the use of devices to amplify sound inside university facilities is prohibited without prior approval).
May not permanently affix or obstruct the view of those assembled with use of signs, placards, banners, flags, etc.
May not involve activity that is violent or otherwise threatens the safety of the demonstrators or other members of the community.
May not obstruct the business or academic operations of the university.
Demonstrators who engage in conduct that is harassing, discriminatory, violent, threatening, or that otherwise violates university policy may be referred to the appropriate process for further review (i.e. Student Accountability Process, Bias Response, Employee Code of Conduct, etc.). Examples of conduct that may violate university policy include, but are not limited to:
Interfering with others' ability to see or hear an event.
Blocking, obstructing or impeding passage or access to an event.
Obstructing the view of the event including standing or holding signs that block the view of an event.
Substantially interfering with a speaker's presentation through sustained, repeated, loud, amplified, or unusual noise.
Threatening force or violence.
Defacing posters or other advertising for an event.
Unlawfully masking (consistent with Virginia Code 18.2-422) or refusing to present personal identification.
Shutting down an event or attempting to shut down an event.
Constructing, occupying, or sleeping in tents or camping on university-owned or operated properties unless approved in advance by the University (see registration form for this request).
As a private university, the role of EMU Campus Safety and contracted security during a demonstration is to maximize the safety and security of community members as well as university property. When working within these guidelines, other EMU policies and codes of conduct, or applicable law, EMU Campus Safety and other university officials may request community members to identify themselves, instruct community members to remove placards, banners, or signs, or direct individuals to leave a University location.
Procedures for EMU Demonstrations
Registrations for EMU Demonstrations should follow the following procedures:
Registrations for EMU Demonstrations must be submitted 72 hours prior to the planned event.
Registration for a demonstration requires dates, location, summary of group expression, and point of contact that is a currently enrolled student or employee.
Any concerns from registration information will be followed up by the Student Engagement and Leadership Development office for students and the Human Resources for employees.
Demonstrations that do not meet the policy expectations must be formally documented and the procedures in the Student Handbook Standards of Conduct or the Employee Code of Conduct will be followed.
Use this link when registering an EMU campus demonstration.
University Resources:
Student Handbook Standards of Conduct
Employee Code of Conduct
Approved September 2024, President’s Cabinet
Responsible party
The Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for this policy.
Policy Review
This policy is to be reviewed every three years.
Distribution
Employee Handbook, Student Handbooks, add Campus Safety webpage