Student Protest and Activism

Rowan University is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness while upholding individuals’ rights as protected by the Constitution’s First Amendment. We anticipate that there will be protests or demonstrations on campus, therefore, we have outlined a few concrete measures to help all students, faculty, and staff engage constructively with one another around difficult and controversial issues, as well to ensure everyone is informed and remains safe. We also want to assure you that violence will not be tolerated prior to, during, or after protests or demonstrations.

The Division of Student Life and Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Rowan University holds that student activism plays an important role in students’ personal, academic, and leadership development. Through activism, students learn to advocate for their values and beliefs, values that are sometimes newly discovered through their studies and co-curricular endeavors at the university. Activism offers students an opportunity to contextualize and apply the academic study of pressing social issues and exercise their freedom of expression. Holding an organized, thoughtful demonstration also challenges students to hone a variety of leadership skills, such as diplomacy, responsibility, accountability, motivation, communication, and coalition-building, to name a few. Student activism, in short, can play a vital component in Rowan’s mission to being inclusive, agile, and response.

Protesters on Campus/First Amendment Rights

Under the U.S. Constitution, Rowan University is obligated as a public institution to allow freedom of expression, but we do not condone or endorse any speech that is discriminatory, harassing, or otherwise interferes with the rights of others.

Any demonstration or protest on the property of Rowan University that interferes with the educational function of the institution, or in which violence, property damage, or other unlawful behavior occurs is unlawful.

The Rowan University Office of Public Safety encourages organizers to communicate with University Administration in advance so we may better provide for the safety of participants, share important information, and help ensure the success of the event.

Adapted from the University of Michigan

What is and is not allowed

Please refer to Rowan University's Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly Policy. You also should familiarize yourself with the Guidelines for the Right to Protest as detailed by the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.

Responding to an unlawful protest or demonstration

If a demonstration or protest becomes violent or other unlawful behavior occurs, please:

Dial 911
Follow all instructions from law enforcement officials
Avoid provoking or obstructing demonstrators
Avoid the area of disturbance if you are outside
Shelter in place if you are indoors and stay away from doors and windows
Secure your area (lock doors, safes, files, vital records, and expensive equipment) in case demonstrators enter

If you need additional support, you can call the Wellness Center, 856-256-4333

If you feel unsafe, you can call Public Safety at 856-256-4922

Protest and Activism Resources

Student Engagement Advisory Team - For student(s) and student organization(s) interested in holding a planned protest, march, or other activism

The Student Engagement Advisory Team exists to support students’ awareness of campus policies when they have an event that may be considered demonstrations, protests, or rallies. The goal is to help students hold a safe and successful event that follows campus policies while also allowing their voice to be heard.

Student Life & DEI personnel are committed to providing support and guidance to students who wish to organize demonstrations, even if students are expressing opposition to the University’s administrative decisions. Student Life & DEI staff can provide the following to student activists:

Guidance regarding University policies that were developed to keep the campus safe and accessible
Information about University organizational structure and institutional history so that students can best reach their intended audience
Access to meetings with SGA and other student leaders as well as Student Life, DEI, and other professionals to address the students’ concerns if applicable
Receptiveness and openness to students’ ideas about how to improve the campus
Leadership resources about effective actions, connections, and forms of communication to achieve their goals
Resources for support and advocacy services for self-care and community care
Inclusion in committees and task forces to address issues affecting students

The team is led by professionals within the Student Center & Campus Activities with support and guidance from the Division of Student Life/Dean of Students, Division of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Wellness, Public Safety, and the Student Government Association.

If you are interested in holding a planned protest, march, or other activism activity please complete this form.

Student Activism, Protest or March Form

If you are a Rowan Univeristy student or student organization interested in holding a planned protest, march, or other activism activity please complete this form.

This form notifies Rowan University's Student Engagement Response Team of a planned protest, march, or other activism activity hosted by a Rowan University student organization or individual student(s). The goal is to help students hold a safe and successful event that follows campus policies while also allowing their voice to be heard. Event support is focused on safety and security of participants and the Rowan community, and is not otherwise based on the topic/subject/content of the event.

You can view sample form responses with an agenda and route map here.

Protest Response Team - for faculty & staff

Rowan University has consistently followed federal laws and university policies when addressing protests on campus. To enhance our responsiveness, we have instituted a Rowan Protest Response Team. The Team is composed of faculty, staff, administrators, and students who are trained in First Amendment and University Protest policies, de-escalation and conflict resolution skills, and social justice advocacy.

If you would like to join our team, please contact Dr. Joe Lizza, Dr. Drew Tinnin, or Dr. Penny McPherson for more information.

Rowan Community Cares - A space for the Rowan community to come together during protests

Protests and demonstrations can invoke feelings of fear, sadness, anger and confusion. In the event that a protest occurs on campus, we encourage all students to refrain from going to the location of the protesters, and to join the Rowan Protest Response Team and the Office of Social Justice, Inclusion and Conflict Resolution (SJICR) in front of Evergreen Hall (or other announced location). At this site you will be among Rowan community members in a caring, safe space, to decompress or discuss topics of social justice and advocacy for people of all backgrounds.