SEPT 12, 2024 | NEWS | By Seth Jahraus
About 100 chairs made up the conference hall where Colorado College hosted its first “Freedom of Expression” workshop. Of those chairs, ten were filled, just three of which were filled by students (including this reporter).
The event, held on Thursday, Sept. 5, reflected on the key components of the school’s current freedom of expression policy and alluded to some possible future revisions.
After last year’s pro-Palestine library sit-in, the college issued conduct cases to several protesters citing violations of the school’s Freedom of Expression Policy. Some supporters of the protest argued that disruption was inherent to student activism, however, as noted by former President L. Song Richardson in an email to the campus, the policy has some limitations.
“Our Freedom of Expression policy clearly states that protests and demonstrations must not ‘disrupt the normal business or activities of the college.’ We therefore do not allow protests in classrooms or the library,” she wrote.
Now, the Freedom of Expression Policy is under review. A group of administrators and faculty are working to revise the policy which was last edited in 2018. The revision will not necessarily result in any changes to the content of the policy, but will expand on its already established framework.
“It’s really about clarity,” said Dean of Students Lacy Karpilo.
A final draft should be adopted by Jan. 2025. Until then, the school plans to continue hosting listening sessions for students, staff and faculty to ask questions and provide feedback during the revision process.
The Sept. 5 event titled “Know Your Rights & Responsibilities” was the first in a three-part series on freedom of expression hosted by the administration. The first session focused primarily on the expectations set out in the current policy.
The presentation included comments from Karpilo and Assistant Vice President of Civil Rights David Jensen. The speakers reminded students that certain demonstrations require a review from Student Life before they can be organized. These include: events that block traffic, events with sound amplification, encampments and marches.
Other demonstrations such as those that block building exits, damage property or interfere with scheduled campus events are strictly prohibited. Demonstrations also cannot contain any hate speech or harassment.
As student protesters continue to condemn Israel‘s war against Hamas, universities have had to grapple with the distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism. In a federal complaint issued against Colorado College by a national Jewish advocacy group, Zionism is framed as an extension of the Jewish faith, in effect arguing that anti-Zionism is a form of harassment.
When asked if the freedom of expression policy will adopt this definition, Jensen said that they have been trying to “work that out.”
“The one thing I can take away from what guidance we have been given is we have an obligation to support the students,” said Jensen.
The final draft of the revised Freedom of Expression Policy must be confirmed by Interim President Manya Whitaker. There will then be a 30-day period where any campus members can bring up concerns or comments before the changes are officially adopted.
Shortly after the session, the two student attendees thanked the presenters before exiting Gaylord Hall.
“I was disappointed in the turnout considering the presence of student activism on campus,” said Julia Watson ‘25.
The other student, Mia Paulk ‘27, noted how in order to register for the event, one had to submit their full name and email. It’s worth mentioning that the office for student life, which Karpilo heads, is the department that first issued conduct cases against the library protesters.
“All these people are going to be here. They’re going to know who you are,” said Paulk. “I wouldn’t want to show up either.”
Both students expressed a desire for the information from the presentation to be more accessible to the general public. They found the outlining of the freedom of expression policy beneficial to their understanding of the boundaries of student activism on campus.