As it nears completion of its work, the Ad Hoc Faculty Committee on Dissent and Protest invites members of the University community to submit their ideas and recommendations to protestpolicyinput@uchicago.edu.
A January 2013 protest in support of an adult trauma center at the Medical Center highlighted the need to reexamine policies, as pointed out in a March 2013 letter from Provost Thomas Rosenbaum to the faculty. For example, the question of whether different sets of rules should apply to different types of University facilities arose from the protest. The incident also underscored the need for better communication between protesters and University staff, Rosenbaum noted in his letter.
In May, the committee held an open meeting to gather perspectives and advice on policy development and refinement. The committee also has met with various groups and individuals from the University, Medical Center and community. As the December delivery date for its report nears, the committee invites further comments about the strengths and deficiencies of existing University policies and welcomes ideas for specific improvements or recommended changes, such as those that might be drawn from successful models used at other institutions.
Current University of Chicago policies and statements related to free expression, protest and discipline may be reviewed at the links below:
Freedom of Expression: http://www.uchicago.edu/about/statement_on_principles_of_free_expression/
Protest and Demonstration: http://studentmanual.uchicago.edu/protest
Outdoor Events on Campus: http://studentmanual.uchicago.edu/outdoor
Safety & Appropriate Use of Facilities: https://studentmanual.sites.uchicago.edu/safety
Student Disciplinary Systems: http://studentmanual.uchicago.edu/disciplinary
All-University Disciplinary System: http://studentmanual.uchicago.edu/university_dicip_system
—Prof. Jacqueline Stewart
