In an email sent Sept. 10 to faculty, staff, and other university constituencies, the university shared a note sent to students concerning its support for free expression and rules for protests and demonstrations.
"In support of free expression, the university over the summer updated our resources to provide information, clarifications, and examples, including a shorthand Protests and Demonstrations Student Reference Guide and FAQ," the email said.
"The freedom to express individual perspectives is foundational to our university values and guided by our policies and rules. Student Affairs, the Office of Institutional Equity, and JHU Public Safety work collaboratively to support our students' understanding of these values, policies, and rules, while ensuring the health and safety of our community."
The letter to students, signed by Rachelle Hernandez, vice provost for student affairs, and Shannon Shumpert, vice provost for institutional equity, is as follows:
Dear Students:
As we begin the new academic year together, we want to remind you that reasoned, analytical, and open dialogue is the foundation upon which our community rests. The free exchange of ideas is not only core to the university learning experience but critically important as we navigate challenging world events that can lead to turmoil on campus. As President Daniels shared recently, we have a duty of care to one another that allows us to engage with and across the diversity of experiences, backgrounds, and cultures of our students and to ensure that each voice can be heard, including during peaceful demonstration.
Because protests and demonstrations can affect more than those engaged in these activities, we want to ensure all students are informed about our policies and practices related to student protests and demonstrations.
Resources for free expression
This summer, the university updated our protests and demonstrations website—with no major changes to policy—by providing clarifications, explanations, and examples, including a Protests and Demonstrations Student Reference Guide … and FAQ that address some of the questions raised during campus protests last spring.
Our updated website, Free Expression: Protests and Demonstrations, elaborates on our Guidelines for Students in Support of Free Expression Through Protests and Demonstrations. These guidelines were developed collaboratively with our students several years ago to provide clarity around the rules for public expression. They also ensure that our university community is a safe environment free of harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and threats, which are a violation of our existing policies and the Student Conduct Code.
If you have questions about any of the policies or their enforcement, please contact us.
We wish you a safe and healthy start to the year.
Rachelle Hernandez
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Shanon Shumpert
Vice Provost for Institutional Equity
