University of Pennsylvania Implements New Rules to Restrict Protests and Encampments on Campus

The University of Pennsylvania has recently enforced new regulations to control protests on campus after a surge of demonstrations earlier this year.

Prohibition of Encampments and Overnight Demonstrations

The university's new guidelines explicitly prohibit the establishment of encampments and overnight demonstrations within any university premises, whether indoor or outdoor. It emphasizes that these activities will be considered as trespassing and dealt with accordingly in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the university community.

Protection of Freedom of Speech

Additionally, the regulations also prohibit actions that obstruct speakers from expressing their views or prevent other members of the community from hearing or seeing the speaker. It is aimed at safeguarding the freedom of speech and maintaining a conducive environment for intellectual discourse.

Restrictions on Slogans and Graffiti

The rules further extend to restricting students from projecting slogans onto buildings or using semi-permanent or permanent chalk or marker to write slogans on them. This measure is implemented to uphold the dignity of university property and facilities.

These decisive measures follow the clearance and arrest of 33 individuals at a pro-Palestinian encampment at the university, as part of a larger trend of heightened tensions between students and universities across the country. Since mid-April, over 3,000 arrests have been made in connection with demonstrations protesting Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza, prompting various academic institutions to address the need for maintaining order and safety amidst fervent activism.