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Demonstration and Free Expression Policy

The College’s core values affirm that Olin will “strive to provide a safe environment that supports freedom of inquiry, protects diversity, and fosters a sense of well‐being.” Olin Collegerespects and values the fundamental principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression and free speech.

To protect these core values and enable academic freedom and freedom of speech to flourish, Olin College affirms the rights of students to engage in peaceful protests and demonstrations.
All members of the College community have a reasonable right to freely express their positions and to work for their acceptance, whether they assent to or dissent from existing situations in
the College or society.

To ensure that these peaceful demonstrations do not impinge on the rights of others or unduly interfere with College activities, and, importantly, that the College maintains the safety of the
community (including compliance with accessibility and fire safety standards), Olin has developed a policy for demonstration activities on its campus.

The College defines the word “demonstration” to include protests, demonstrations, picketing, civil gatherings, and any other form of collective dissent, support, or other expression of speech.

Guidelines and Expectations for Demonstrations
Students planning a demonstration are asked to notify the Dean of the College, or an appropriate representative of the College, at least two days in advance. This process is intended to help planners successfully navigate this policy, and other relevant Olin policies, as well as to allow for facilities and relevant personnel adequate preparation time.

Demonstration organizers should provide the following information via email and, when possible, meet in person with the Dean of Student Affairs or their representative; these individuals will involve others in the conversation as necessary for planning purposes. The initial email should include the following information:

  1. A brief description of the overall nature of the demonstration.
  2. Planned date, time, and location.
  3. Likely number of participants (students, faculty, staff, outside visitors, etc.).
  4. Plans for managing behavior of any demonstrators that could pose safety concerns or significant disruption and any other known security concerns or questions.
  5. Contact information for the demonstration organizers.
  1. Please note that it is important to ensure that a safety plan is developed in advance and that any materials placed on campus also comply with the posting policy. Demonstration organizers

 

are also reasonably responsible for the behavior of guests or visitors they have invited to come to the campus for the demonstration.
There may be times when a demonstration forms spontaneously or in response to an event that was not previously known about. In these cases, organizers should still ensure that the
demonstration meets all other provisions of this policy.

Important Considerations
Olin will typically be supportive of demonstrations that embrace the six principles below:

  1. The goals of the demonstration should not be contrary to Olin’s mission and values or the Honor Code.
  2. The demonstration must be conducted in a safe manner and may not create conditions that may be unsafe and/or unhealthy for participants or other individuals. For example, a demonstration may not hinder access to enter and/or leave a building. Violence or threats of violence are unacceptable at all times.
  3. The demonstration should not disrupt meetings, functions, or classes.
  4. The demonstration may not cause damage to College property or the property of others, whether intentional or unintentional.
  5. The demonstration must occur in an area that is public to all members of the Olin community. (See more information on locations below.)
  6. The demonstration may not exceed the designated limit, if any, on the number of individuals who may legally occupy any single space.

 

If one or more of the foregoing requirements are not followed, the College reserves the right to take appropriate action using existing accountability systems (i.e. the Honor Board).

Location
Three locations have been designated as optimal for demonstrations because they offer high visibility for demonstration efforts, are designed to accommodate large numbers of people, and
offer participants and nonparticipants maximum safety. They include the:

  • Campus Center Dining Hall (except the Servery)
  • Milas Hall Mezzanine
  • Oval

 

The following locations should be avoided:

  • Occupied working spaces or conference rooms
  • Hallways or lobbies if the demonstration blocks access or egress.
  • Secure locations, such as the dining kitchen, the central plant in the Campus Center, storage areas, data and network rooms