Dear Faculty, Staff and Students,
At DePaul, we take pride in our students' ability to look beyond themselves and envision a better and more just future for all. We believe upholding the dignity of all members of our community is integral to our mission. Our values demand nothing less, and it is in this spirit that we introduce the
revised Demonstration Guidelines.
The revised guidelines, formerly known as the “Protest Guidelines,” reflect clarity of language and recognize that a protest is a form of demonstration. The revisions clarify existing guidelines and include convenient links to associated policies and practices. The core principles behind the demonstration guidelines have not changed.
Student Affairs began reviewing the guidelines in the Summer of 2023 and continued throughout the academic year. During that time students, faculty, and staff contributed insight and perspective. After several reviews and rounds of stakeholder feedback, the guidelines were shared for further review and edits with the Speech and Expression Advisory Committee (SEAC), a university-wide committee comprised of students, faculty, and staff.
A few important components of the new guidelines:
- Updated, concise terminology provides additional clarity regarding the guidelines and related resources for our campus community.
- Resources for students, faculty, and staff, especially toward the end of the document under “Related Resources.”
- Clarity on how our students, faculty, and staff can safely and productively engage in demonstration activities while still following the university's policies and procedures and, most importantly, our longstanding values.
- Reinforcing that all demonstrations occurring on campus grounds require a space reservation in advance and in accordance with reservation procedures.
- Reinforcing that all demonstrations are prohibited from impeding the conduct of business at the university and targeting any group or member of our beloved community with violence or discrimination.
Our expectation is that all DePaul students, faculty, and staff will be familiar with the Demonstration Guidelines.
Our next steps are to socialize the Demonstration Guidelines with all community stakeholders at meetings of the Student Government Association, the Staff Council, and the Faculty Council. We hope that all members of the DePaul community will join us to educate themselves on the guidelines.
For countless generations, we have prepared our graduates to be successful in their chosen fields, to serve humanity and become agents of changes. Our Catholic, Vincentian values have continually renewed us and served as an inspiration throughout our history. We will never shy away from those values. We remain committed to nurturing an environment that is conducive to learning and provides our university community with the opportunity to critically engage with a diversity of viewpoints. These grounding principles will continue to guide us and shape our DePaul community for generations to come.
Salma Ghanem, Ph.D.
Provost
Eugene L. Zdziarski, II, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs