MILWAUKEE – As students return to school this fall, administrators are sending emails to let them know there are rules to be followed, related to encampments and protests.
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee administrators sent a mass email in late August, to let the campus community know that chalking can be vandalism, free speech has limits and encampments are illegal. School officials plan to send the email again when classes start on Sept. 3, said Angelica Duria, spokesperson for the university.
“Encampments and occupation of buildings violate state law,” reads the email. “Building occupations are also prohibited both when buildings are open for public use and after closing hours.”
The email comes on the heels of a roiling spring and summer. In the spring, the university arguably capitulated to encampment protesters with an agreement that referred to “scholasticide” in Israel, among other alleged transgressions. This was swiftly followed by fervent objections from the Jewish community and public disapproval from the president of the University of Wisconsin System. The school’s chancellor, Mark Mone, has since apologized and made plans to step down.
Over the summer, a pro-Palestinian Instagram account appeared to issue threats against pro-Israel people or institutions, which led UWM to suspend several student organizations. (See “UWM suspended student groups,” page 8.) One bright spot: A new instructor, Samantha Cooper, with expertise in Jewish music and research, joined the Sam and Helen Stahl Center for Jewish Studies at UWM.
In addition to barring encampments, UWM’s mass email touched on free speech: “In no case does UWM condone language that targets individuals or specific populations, even if that speech is legally protected.”
“This fall, UWM will be educating the campus community about free speech, lawful protest and campus conduct not only for new students, but also for our continuing students and our faculty and staff.”
“Hecklers who shout down and try to drown out a speaker during a gathering – that’s misconduct. Harassment, defamation, speech that unduly intimidates someone, threats and imminent incitement of violence are examples of speech that is not protected by the First Amendment.”
The email also states that chalk messages must be limited to outdoor surfaces and only water-soluble material may be used. The email adds that building occupations and obstructions are not permitted.
“If encampments are erected or university buildings are occupied, UWM will take appropriate action to enforce the rules, including ending the encampment or occupation, issuing citations and initiating student conduct and student organization conduct disciplinary processes,” it reads. “Protests must abide by state law and university policy.”
Students and employees are encouraged to download the Rave Guardian app — a safety tool that connects them directly with UWM Police Department resources, according to the email. The email adds that in an emergency, one may call the UWM Police Department at 911 on a UWM Teams account or 414-229-9911 on a cellphone or off-campus phone. Calls to 911 may be used from off-campus locations or from a cell phone to reach City of Milwaukee police, fire and ambulance services.
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