By Holly Wang
Carnegie Mellon students and faculty gathered outside Warner Hall on Sept. 26 to protest the university’s new rules on “expressive activities.” Jean Ortiz-Santiago/ Staff Photographer
On Thursday, Sept. 26, approximately 40 Carnegie Mellon students gathered in front of Warner Hall to protest newly updated regulations on student protests and expressive activities. These regulations, announced earlier this semester by the university’s provost and vice president of student affairs, have drawn sharp criticism from both students and faculty, with many calling the new rules a threat to free speech on campus.
At the start of the Fall 2024 semester, a university-wide email outlined changes that restrict where and how protests and demonstrations can take place. Under the revised guidelines, any gathering expected to exceed 25 participants must be preapproved by the Student Leadership, Involvement, and Civic Engagement (SLICE) office a minimum of three business days in advance.
The administration cited concerns about campus safety, disruption of academic activities, and the need for better coordination of large events. Failure to comply could result in disciplinary action, including conduct reviews.
However, many students argue that these regulations stifle spontaneous protest and discourage free expression — values they believe are integral to a university environment — and so they held a protest. The protest, which began after a flyer circulated on social media, was a direct response to what students see as an infringement on their rights.
The protest was not registered with SLICE, as is required by the new policy. Protesters carried signs emblazoned with slogans such as “Free Speech Now” and “Let the Students Speak,” demanding the reversal of the new rules.
The protest remained peaceful, with participants chanting and holding a brief rally. Despite the presence of campus police and two administrative staff monitoring the event from a distance, there were no interventions.
Jay Aronson, a professor in the Department of History and founder of the Center for Human Rights Science at Carnegie Mellon, attended the demonstration and voiced his concerns over the new assembly regulations.
“I have been here 21 years and haven’t seen anything disruptive that warrants the new rule change,” Aronson said. “Universities should be the training ground for students, and they should feel empowered to provoke change in society. These regulations put a hurdle in that process, which is wrong.”
Aronson also mentioned that faculty, while limited in their influence over university policy, had been having ongoing discussions about the regulations. “Faculty have little power in this area,” Aronson explained, “but many of us have voiced our concerns, including circulating a petition to oppose the new rules. We see them as unnecessary and unworkable.”
For students, the new rules pose a significant hurdle to organizing spontaneous demonstrations, which have historically been a key feature of activism both on campus and across the nation. The activists believe that the new regulations may inadvertently galvanize a stronger protest culture on campus, which they argue has historically been weak at Carnegie Mellon.
The protest marks a significant moment in the ongoing debate over free speech at Carnegie Mellon, with faculty and students alike questioning how the university balances maintaining order with the right to protest. Aronson noted that the professional and career-driven culture at Carnegie Mellon may make students hesitant to engage in activism.
“CMU students often prioritize career outcomes and professional development, which makes activism here less prominent than at other universities,” Aronson observed. “But that doesn’t mean these issues aren’t important. In fact, the university’s focus on professional success might make it even more crucial for students to learn how to speak up when something is wrong. Many of our graduates go on to work at some of the most powerful companies and institutions, and they need to be equipped to voice their concerns if they face ethical dilemmas in the workplace.”
Controversies over new free speech regulations have sparked disagreements across universities nationwide, as institutions attempt to balance the right to protest with safety. “This isn’t just happening here,” Aronson noted. “Over 50 universities across the country have introduced similar restrictions. It’s a reflection of larger societal tensions between free speech and maintaining public order.”
Colleges such as Columbia, Tufts, Princeton, and the University of Chicago have enacted stricter guidelines on demonstrations, including requiring prior approval for protests and limiting where and when they can occur. Critics argue these policies undermine the right to spontaneous assembly, a key feature of civil disobedience.
According to the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, many of these rules aim to prevent disruptions and curb encampments, but they’ve faced backlash from students who see them as an infringement on their First Amendment rights.
The university administration has not yet issued an official response to the protest, and it remains unclear whether the recent demonstration will prompt a reconsideration of the new rules. Students and faculty alike are waiting to see how the university will handle the backlash, with some fearing that further action might escalate tensions.
Activists and faculty members are advocating for more discussions around the newly announced assembly rule. According to one of the protest organizers, some members of the activism group attempted to address the issue during the provost’s open office hours. Despite these efforts, there is growing frustration among students and faculty members who feel their concerns are not being adequately addressed.
As Carnegie Mellon grapples with this issue, the protest has sparked a broader conversation about the role of universities in fostering free speech and activism. For many, the debate over the regulations is just beginning, and the outcome may set a precedent for how student activism is handled in the future.