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The number one priority of the Office of Public Safety at Ithaca College is to help create an environment in which all members of the campus community and visitors can safely live, learn, teach, and work. Earlier this week the college sent a letter to the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 200United, which represents the bargaining units for the college’s part-time, per-course and full-time contingent faculty. That letter was intended to ensure that those who might otherwise not be aware of Ithaca College policies understand the college’s standard rules and regulations. The letter was sent by the Chief of the Office of Public Safety and Emergency Management, Bill Kerry. The protests that took place at the college entrance on Feb. 20 and Feb. 24 involved a number of people who are not faculty or students of the college and who may not know the policies regarding such topics as solicitation and the intentional disruption of college activities: https://www.ithaca.edu/policies/vol2/volume_2-212/ https://www.ithaca.edu/policies/vol2/volume_2-231/ The Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order which were linked to in the letter clearly state that “nothing in these rules shall be construed to limit or restrict the freedom of speech or peaceful assembly.” However, any conduct that would constitute “intentional disruption or obstruction of teaching, guest lectures, research, administration, free movement, disciplinary proceedings, or other College activities” is not permitted. Additionally, the letter was a reminder that safety protocols at a highly trafficked intersection were not followed on Feb. 24. A large group of picketers crossed Rt. 96B (a state highway) against the traffic light, disregarding both moving traffic and the requests of Public Safety officers who were at the scene attempting to ensure the safety of both pedestrians and motorists. To reiterate, there is nothing in the letter that is intended to limit free speech or is contrary to existing policies at Ithaca College. And as is standard practice, the Office of Public Safety will continue to work, to the extent possible, directly with organizers of protests and other demonstrations in advance and during events to help ensure the safety of everyone involved. Supporting Safety and Free Speech at Campus Demonstrations Comment from
tschneller on
03/02/17
So a letter from the Chief of Police threatening punitive actions "up to and including legal proceedings" if the IC Contingent Faculty union continues to exert its right to free speech by protesting on campus should be understood as an expression of "support" for free speech. Seems a bit Orwellian, doesn't it?
Supporting Safety and Free Speech at Campus Demonstrations Comment from
henderso on
03/02/17
The utter hypocrisy and rank cowardice of those responsible for posting this
notice without signing their names is a new low for an administration that I thought had proven itself to be the worst I have witnessed in almost forty years teaching at the college level at eight different institutions. Or is it arrogance--that the author(s) do not feel any responsibility to the community to sign their names to it. Let us hope new President Collado will see the administrators for what they are and begin the rebuilding of PRW and the college as a place of which we can be proud again. The students and faculty and staff remain strong and brave--it is ironic that those with the most power (and money) seem afraid to own their words. Supporting Safety and Free Speech at Campus Demonstrations Comment from
abarlas on
03/03/17
Safety? Seriously, people?! Let's hope these are the dying low blows of a dying way of running the college as a dictatorship.
A painfully transparent attempt to curtail free speech on campus. Comment from
mdgraham on
03/03/17
The actual justification they are offering is "some people crossed the street against the light" (which, I was there, and I did not see that happen). If true, is that dangerous? Sure! Does anyone in the union recommend doing that? No!
We in the contingent faculty union are opposed to jumping in front of traffic and we're not afraid to say so! But I would very much like to hear the line of reasoning that takes us from "Some people crossed the street against the light" to "therefore we are shutting down all protests on campus." How exactly is arresting us for protesting - which the administration has explicitly threatened to do - going to increase road safety? But if the administration is so concerned about road safety, there is a simple solution. Protests can all begin and end at PRW from now on. How bout that? Then no one has to cross the street. Or, if that's not safe enough, we could hold protests in top administrator's offices. I bet it's real cozy in there. |
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