Student Demonstration Resources & Guidelines

I. Introduction

As an institution committed to personal, professional, and spiritual development that enables students to flourish and live meaningful lives, Providence College supports and encourages critical thinking, freedom of inquiry, and the open exchange of conflicting viewpoints as part of the transformational college experience. At Providence College, freedom of expression is essential in order for the College to uphold the Dominican ideal of the pursuit of veritas. 

All Providence College students have the right to freedom of speech, expression, and assembly, including but not limited to, peaceful protests and orderly demonstrations. At the same time, the College recognizes that the right to protest and demonstrate does not include the right to engage in conduct that disrupts the College’s operations or endangers the safety of others. 

As with all other campus interactions, the College expects that all student protest and demonstration behavior will remain within the standards outlined in the Student Handbook. In accordance with the Code of Conduct standard on unauthorized use of college facilities and offices, protests and demonstrations may not occur inside campus buildings. Sections of the Student Handbook that apply to protests and demonstrations are outlined below in Section III.

II. Resources

To further the effectiveness of their protest or demonstration, clubs/organizations and other groups of students organizing a protest or demonstration are strongly encouraged to meet with a member of the Dean of Students Office prior to their event. It is important to note that this meeting is not an approval meeting and is not an attempt by the College to censor or otherwise limit content or viewpoint. Rather, advance notification enables the College to help ensure that the protest/demonstration takes place in a constructive and peaceable manner.

When possible, the meeting with the Dean of Students Office should be requested at least 5 business days before the start of the demonstration/protest to ensure its successful execution. As needed, the Dean of Students Office will engage partners from other campus offices to support the protest/demonstration (including but not limited to the Office of College Events; the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (IDEI); the Office of Mission & Ministry; the Office of Public Affairs, Community & Government Relations; the Office of Public Safety; the Office of Residence Life & Housing); will designate an appropriate individual as liaison to event organizers/demonstration leaders; will provide planning guidance to students proposing demonstration activities; and will help set expectations for monitoring and managing the protest/demonstration.

Appropriate advance notice also allows the Dean of Students Office to, when appropriate, develop a plan with the Office of Public Safety to provide for the safety of all involved people and college property. Again, the involvement of the Office of Public Safety is not an attempt by the College to censor or otherwise limit content or viewpoint, but is to ensure the safety of all involved participants.

Students who have met with a member of the Dean of Students Office to discuss their protest/demonstration will be supported by a member of the Dean of Students Office at their demonstration/protest. The Dean of Students Office representative will assist students in monitoring/managing their demonstration/protest, and in the situation that obstructive or disruptive events arise, will advise demonstrators on their options for continuing their demonstration in a manner that does not disrupt the College’s operations or endanger the safety of others.

III. Student Handbook & Event Planning Guide References

Sections of the Student Handbook and the Event Planning Guide that apply to protests and demonstrations include but are not limited to:

Code of Conduct Standard #4: Aiding, Abetting, or Inciting

Code of Conduct Standard #5: Disruptive or Disorderly Conduct; Breach of Peace; Noise/Quiet Hours

Code of Conduct Standard #7: Failure to Comply or Identify; Misrepresentation

Code of Conduct Standard #11: Harassment, Assault, Abuse, Reckless Endangerment, Lewd, Indecent, or Obscene Conduct

  • Including but not limited to physical abuse/assault; verbal abuse; conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile/offensive campus, education or working environment; use of abusive or obscene language/gestures; harassment; unauthorized physical contact; intimidation; and/or any conduct that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person. Please see the Student Handbook for the full definition of this Code of Conduct standard

Code of Conduct Standard #13: Property

Code of Conduct Standard #15: Trespass, Unauthorized Possession of Keys/Combination or Identification Card

Code of Conduct Standard #17: Unauthorized Visitation, Violation of the Guest Policy

Campus-Wide Noise Regulations and Quiet Hours are defined in the Campus Life/Residence Life section of the Student Handbook. Demonstrations may not take place during quiet hours. Amplified sound is not permitted at outside events without the prior permission of the Director of Student Activities, Involvement & Leadership (SAIL) or the Assistant Dean of Residence Life & Housing or his/her designee. Please see the “Disorderly Noise and Quiet Hours” section of the Student Handbook

A Fixed Exhibit is an on-campus display, intended to communicate a message, that exists for a set period of time. Fixed Exhibits include, but are not limited to, ribbons or banners tied to trees or lamp posts; temporary walls or other erected structures; sidewalk chalk; or flags, crosses, signs, or other items planted in the ground. Note that displays used temporarily during demonstration are not considered fixed exhibits. As stated in the Student Activities Successful Event Planning Guide, fixed exhibits must be approved by the SAIL Office as part of an event registration form.

IV. Obstructive/Destructive Demonstrations/Protests

Demonstrations that appear to violate policies of the Student Handbook and/or present safety or operational concerns may be interrupted or stopped at the direction of the AVP-Chief of Public Safety/designee. When possible, all efforts will be made to specifically inform demonstrators as to how they may continue their demonstration in a manner which is not disruptive or obstructive. Failure to comply with the direction of the AVP-Chief of Public Safety/designee could result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to referral to the Office of Community Standards and/or, in more severe cases of obstructive or destructive behavior, arrest and prosecution in accordance with RI State Laws.

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