{"id":3212,"date":"2024-03-05T13:45:23","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T20:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/emailarchive\/?p=3212"},"modified":"2024-03-05T14:01:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T21:01:24","slug":"a-message-for-our-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.coloradocollege.edu\/emailarchive\/2024\/03\/05\/a-message-for-our-community\/","title":{"rendered":"A Message For Our Community"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dear CC Community,  <\/span><\/h1>\n
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On Sunday, there was a protest by a small group of students at Tutt Library. The event raised some questions about our policies and procedures concerning student protest activities. We would like to take this opportunity to clarify for the community how we balance our commitment to freedom of expression and the protection of our students\u2019 learning environment.<\/div>\n

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We take freedom of expression seriously. CC provides numerous avenues for our students to express their views in a peaceful manner and at reasonable times and places on campus. We protect their right to do so. <\/div>\n

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At the same time, we strive to protect our students\u2019 learning environment. Our Freedom of Expression policy<\/a> clearly states that protests and demonstrations must not \u201cdisrupt the normal business or activities of the college.\u201d We therefore do not allow protests in classrooms or the library.<\/div>\n

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What happened<\/strong><\/div>\n

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Last week, it came to our attention that there might be a student protest at Tutt Library on Sunday. Because this was not a campus-sanctioned event, we did not know who the planners were and could not confirm if the protest would take place. Nevertheless, Campus Safety prepared to be on-site to monitor the situation as it evolved and to implement appropriate safety measures as needed.   <\/div>\n

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On Sunday, a group of about <\/strong>10 students began a protest in the library. Their actions consisted of chants, songs, music, and posted banners. There was no damage to property or targeting of individuals. When their noise level became disruptive, Campus Safety informed them that their activities were interfering with other students\u2019 ability to learn. The students were told that if they did not stop, they would violate our Student Code of Conduct. The students chose not to stop their demonstration.   <\/div>\n

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In the absence of a health or safety emergency, such as threats of violence to people or property, our policy and practice is to address student misconduct of this nature through the student disciplinary process. Accordingly, Campus Safety did not arrest or otherwise force the protesting students to exit. <\/div>\n

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To ensure that we protected our students\u2019 learning environment, we provided students with access to alternative study spaces on Sunday in Shove Memorial Chapel, Gaylord Hall, and Gates Commons.   <\/div>\n

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Next Steps<\/strong><\/div>\n

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We recognize that Sunday\u2019s protest was upsetting to some members of our community. We are continuing to meet individually and in groups with students, and we are communicating in detail about how and where to access support resources. Additionally, we have held and will continue to hold our students and employees accountable to our Freedom of Expression Policy and Community Standards.   <\/strong><\/div>\n

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We are committed to ensuring that we educate our community about Antisemitism, and Anti-Arab and Anti-Muslim hate, and will continue to do so to protect all our students. These efforts to date include:  <\/div>\n

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