On Tuesday, Senior Vice President and Dean for Academic Affairs Jennifer Scanlon announced further changes and clarifications to the College’s policies regarding the use of campus spaces and freedom of expression in an email to the campus community. These revisions follow updates to the policy that were introduced on January 23 and developed using recommendations from the Committee on Postering, Building Use and Demonstrations.

Scanlon stated in the email that she and Senior Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs Jim Hoppe had spent the past few weeks gathering feedback from community members about the changes. When the policy was first updated in January, the Committee urged that there be ongoing opportunities to provide feedback.

“While often varied and sometimes conflicting, this feedback has reiterated the importance of clarity,” Scanlon wrote in the email.

The Freedom of Expression and On-Campus Protests and Demonstrations Policy now clarifies that it applies only to protests and demonstrations, while additional events and activities are covered by different policies. Scanlon also clarified that protest and demonstration organizers and participants must be careful in inviting external guests to campus after receiving feedback that the original language implied that organizers of any campus event could be held responsible for non-College guests’ actions.

Scanlon highlighted that the policy now explicitly states that “in the event concerns about a protest or demonstration are raised, the College will, when possible, make efforts to work with the organizers to address and remedy those concerns.”

Restrictions on projecting messages were also newly moved to the Publicity, Outside Organizations and Solicitation on Campus policy. Additionally, the consultation section of the Freedom of Expression and On-Campus Protests and Demonstrations Policy now focuses on students, encouraging them to consult with the College in advance of an organized protest or demonstration.

The updated Registered Faculty and Staff Groups Policy now outlines that not all faculty and staff groups must register. Only groups that want access to College benefits, like using the College’s name, reserving spaces, using equipment and hosting events open to the public must do so. Faculty and staff groups formed through academic or administrative departments do not need to register and may operate under the department’s name.

Scanlon noted that the committee will continue to listen to feedback throughout the spring semester and review the policies again at the end of the 2025–26 academic year.