Student Protest and Activism

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Student Protest and Activism

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.

Hateful speech, like all speech, is protected by the First Amendment provided the speech does not incite immediate violence. That does not mean, however, that hateful speech must be tolerated. Hate speech can still cause real harm. Rowan reserves the right to engage in educational dialogue and action for behavior that is not consistent with the code of conduct. 

Although some people may feel anger, resentment, frustration, or discouragement in response to hateful speech, those feelings alone are insufficient grounds to limit that speech. An effective response to hateful speech is exercising your own speech in ways that do not infringe upon speech of other individuals, such as ignoring the hateful speech, providing direct support to targeted individuals or groups, and/or participating in educational dialogues with your faculty and peers.

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 and subject to being addressed by designated university officials and/or law enforcement officers. 

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 are my rights if I choose to organize or attend a protest?

Please refer to Rowan University's Free Speech and Peaceful Assembly Policy. Your rights are strongest in public forums like sidewalks, and in front of government buildings, as long as you are not blocking access or interfering with operations. No permit is necessary to march on public sidewalks, as long as car and pedestrian traffic is not obstructed. If you do not have a permit, police may ask you to move to the side of a sidewalk to let others pass or for other safety reasons.

Protests, demonstrations, or other acts of free expression on campus may prompt a counter-protest or other forms of expression. When these arise, the expression of all parties is important and will be supported in accordance with these guidelines. On occasion, a separate protest area may be designated by the Dean of Students, Student Life staff, or Public Safety, for those seeking to express views that differ from those expressed by the event organizers, to ensure that all views can be expressed.

 

Why are there police officers present at protests, rallies and marches?

The role of police at protests is to protect members of the Rowan community as well those visiting the campus and campus property. They will ensure your right to protest as well as the safety of all those attending the event. Violence, property damage, or other unlawful behavior may be addressed by designated university officials and/or law enforcement officers. 

 

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. The Student Engagement Advisory Team (SEAT) does not determine who may or may not demonstrate on or occupy University property.

The Student Engagement Advisory & Protest Response Teams exists to:

  1. educate students regarding rights, responsibilities, and expectations
  2. work collaboratively with Campus Police and public safety officials to maintain a safe environment
  3. serve in an advisory capacity to students

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. Upon receipt of the form, a team member will contact you to discuss event logistics and resources available to allow you to have a safe and successful event.

Student Activism, Protest or March Form

If you are a Rowan University 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

The Protest Response team consists of student life, public safety, and other professionals who may be called upon to assist in the planning and managing of demonstrations, rallies, protests, and other crowd-oriented campus events planned or attended by students.

Most team members have years of experience working with various types of student oriented events. In addition, members are asked to attend periodic training sessions focused onFirst Amendment rights, de-escalation techniques, and event logistics. 

 

If you would like to join our team, please contact Dr. Joe Lizza for more information.

Counter-Protests & Other Opportunities To Engage

Protests and demonstrations can evoke feelings of fear, sadness, anger, and confusion. When a protest or demonstration occurs on campus, individual students and recognized student organizations can choose to organize a counter-protest. Traditionally, the purposes of counter-protests can range from merely voicing opposition to the objective of the other protest to actively drawing attention away from the other protest toward the counter-protestors' cause.

When a counter-protest is student organized, it will be provided the same resources that the original protest or demonstration was provided. Since counter-protests may occur in the moment without pre-planning, some rescues or services may be unavailable. 

In addition, students who may want to be present, but not fully engage with the activism related activities, may connect a member of the Protest Response Team who will be available onsite. 

 

Did you know that protesters and counterprotesters have the right to free speech,and the university must treat both groups equally?

  • University officials and public safety may keep protesters and counter-protesters separated.
  • Counter-demonstrators do not have a right to physically disrupt the event or drown out the speakers they are protesting.
  • They do have the right to be present and to voice their displeasure within the vicinity of the demonstrators.

 

The Danger of the "Heckler's Veto"

A heckler's veto is a situation in which a party who disagrees with a speaker’s message is able to unilaterally trigger events that result in the speaker being silenced. There is no First Amendment right to shout-down a speaker. 

In the legal sense, a "heckler’s veto" occurs when the speaker’s right is curtailed or restricted by the actions of the government or a counter protesting organization. These actions also violate the First Amendment rights of audience members to hear a message, even if the message is generaly perceived as unpopular.

Rowan will not permit students to prevent others with whom they disagree from expressing their views in accordance with the First Amendment. The university does not tolerate coercive disruption. Coercive disruption includes physically blocking access to a speaking event, physical intimidation of a speaker, and noise making that prevents a speaker from being heard.

Other Campus Resources and Reporting Options

Students may report concerning behavior using one of these campus resources: