Unions at the University of Oregon rallied Thursday and marched through campus to protest the new “free speech policy” recently communicated to staff and faculty.
The UO Campus Labor Council organized a rally in front of the Lillis Business Complex and then marched to Johnson Hall, the university’s administrative building, to deliver a joint “letter of condemnation” to UO President Karl Scholz, declaring their right to freedom of speech and expression claimed. The CLC consists of four campus unions: United Academics, Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation, SEIU Local 503 and UO Student Workers. Together the unions represent more than 8,000 employees on campus.
“This is about academic freedom, the ability to express ourselves freely and express our freedom of expression,” said Collin Heatley, GTFF vice president of external affairs. “The university has increased oversight of faculty, graduate student workers, undergraduate and graduate student workers, and by extension, staff.”
The call for free speech comes after a series of ‘increased surveillance’, union members said. Several students have been issued violations of the Student Code of Conduct, which began earlier this summer for their behavior during pro-Palestinian protests in the spring. Heatley said new violations continued to be committed last week. Some of the students who were issued violations were identified through public comment from the Board of Trustees, which requires students to submit their names to speak to the board.
The policy encourages students to report faculty members who may be violating UO policy, Heatley said.
“No student should be encouraged or coerced by UO employees to be exposed to the protest or encampment,” Interim Vice President of Student Life Kris Winters said in May. “This includes visiting the encampment for academic or educational purposes, including class or office hours. I encourage students to reach out to report their concerns.”
The guidelines indicate what is and is not allowed when students and teachers express themselves. For example, “peacefully assembling,” “engaging in meaningful discussions,” and “distributing flyers and brochures” are permitted, but “exceeding the safe occupancy capacity of a room,” “disrupting scheduled university activities,” “camping, destroying property or the erection of other structures”, and “the use of sound, whether amplified or not, without permission or outside the indicated times and areas” are not permitted.
The protesters printed copies of the guidelines and graded them an “F” in red ink.
“This is another step down a very troubling and problematic path,” Heatley said. “No matter how you feel about the reasons for the people giving their speech, what matters is that that right to do so is protected.”
After a brief meeting with speeches from union leaders, the group marched to Johnson Hall.
As the group gathered outside Johnson Hall, the four presidents of each union went inside to personally deliver their letter to Scholz. Instead, they were met by a member of the UO administration, Mark Schmelz, chief human resources officer and vice president, who discussed their concerns with them.
“We were really hoping that the president would be there to receive that letter,” said Jennifer Smith, president of SEIU Local 503. “He had a proxy who accepted the letter, who was very gracious and accepting, but we asked if the president would meet with us so that we could share our concerns and work something out.
“I really feel like this policy is born of fear, and it’s unfortunate that it seems like this campus is afraid of its own students, who are generally between the ages of 18 and 22,” Smith said.
Smith said that while past actions and policies regarding free speech on campus have not yet directly threatened classified employees, she said these guidelines could be “selectively implemented” for any type of organization.
“They violate the free ability to organize our own workers and organize for better working conditions,” Smith said. “Our ticket hasn’t arrived yet.”
University of Oregon responds to protest
UO issued a statement following Thursday’s protest.
“Free expression is fundamental to citizenship and academic life,” UO stated via email. “Equally important is the right to work and study without discrimination or harassment. The University of Oregon considers free speech and academic freedom essential to our mission, while also promoting an inclusive and respectful campus.”
UO pointed to its policies that ensure all students and staff can exercise their rights while protecting the university’s operations and ensuring safety.
UO’s new website, “Free Expression at UO,” launched in May, provides information, tools and guidance on UO expectations for students, staff and faculty.
“All enrolled students are accountable to the UO Student Conduct Code, which establishes community standards to maintain and protect an environment conducive to learning,” UO said. “Visitors to campus are also bound by the Prohibited Conduct Policy, which prohibits disruption of teaching and learning activities and unauthorized access to or use of University facilities. These apply to an individual’s actions, not to the content of his or her speech.”
Miranda Cyr covers education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon students and staff protest suppressed free speech
