Preparing for campus demonstrations and protests: Four key focus areas

Abstract

Over the past few years, the number of demonstrations and protests in Western countries has been increasing. These protests have tested the limits of free speech and expression, leading to individuals and groups attempting to, and in some cases succeeding in, shutting down speech with which they do not agree or find offensive. This has been particularly acute on college campuses, most notably at the University of California, Berkeley and Auburn University in Alabama, where speakers with far-right conservative views were forced to cancel their planned speeches because of safety and security concerns. As a result, colleges and universities throughout the USA are re-examining their policies and procedures for speaking engagements and demonstrations and protests, and how to manage them effectively while keeping their campus communities safe. This paper suggests methods by which universities can put into place policies, procedures and guidelines to minimise the possibility of an event becoming violent and overwhelming university resources while at the same time balancing the need for security and an environment that promotes the free exchange of ideas and expression.