Can you protest on your college campus? Here's what Ohio State's 'space rules' say
Sheridan HendrixOn the eve of exam week, Ohio State University Senior Vice President of Student Life Melissa Shivers sent an email to the campus community asking that they be thoughtful of their peers as they study for exams.
That thoughtfulness should extend, she said, to shared community spaces, which are meant to be "conducive to academic focus and success." It's for that reason that the university put noise restrictions into effect through April 30 — the last day of exams.
Campus protests:At least 12 arrested after police break up 6-hour Israel protest at Ohio State University
"To be clear, unless prior authorization has been granted, amplified sound is not permitted indoors or outdoors," Shivers said in her email. "This includes, but is not limited to, audio enhancement devices, vocally amplified sound, and other noise-making instruments. Building coordinators, student support staff and public safety partners will assist in upholding the space rules."
The reminder came as protests against the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza popped up on college campuses across the country and became a focal point of national attention. Columbus became the latest site of student protests against Israel as hundreds of Ohio State students, faculty and community members rallied and set up an encampment Thursday evening outside the Ohio Union.
At least several dozen individuals were arrested during protests at Ohio State this week, including 36 Thursday night alone. Many of those arrested are affiliated with the university, including students and staff.
Violations of the sound restrictions or other university policies, rules and guidelines, Shivers said in her email, will be referred to Student Conduct.
Shivers laid out the rules per the university's "space rules."
Universities often rely on space rules when making judgement calls on when and where to limit free speech on campus. But what exactly are they?
How do space rules work?
Public universities are government entities bound by the Constitution, so students on public campuses have free speech rights protected by the First Amendment, according to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a free-speech advocacy nonprofit better known as FIRE.
"Depending on where, when, and how you protest, public universities can set some reasonable, narrowly-tailored limits on your protest, but they cannot limit the views you express," FIRE's campus protest guidelines read.
Though private colleges and universities are not legally required to honor constitutional rights, many promise their students the right to free speech, according to FIRE.
Space rules fall under "time, place and manner" guidelines, meaning that a university is "allowed to maintain reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions on student speech in public areas of campus," according to FIRE.
"These regulations must be viewpoint- and content-neutral rules on where, when, and how you can demonstrate on campus, in order to prevent disrupting the educational environment," FIRE said. "Even in open, outdoor areas where campus protests are common, colleges might restrict some or all use of amplified sound, setting up tables or other structures, camping, and overnight protests. To be constitutional, those rules must apply to everyone, no matter their viewpoint and even when they’re not trying to convey a message at all."
What are Ohio State University's space rules?
Ohio State's space rules are in place "to ensure that the usage does not disrupt the University’s mission, administrative functions, or other campus-life activities," according to the university's Freedom of Expression website.
During the semester, Ohio State requires that noise be restricted before 5:30 p.m. and after 10 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; before noon and after midnight Saturdays; and before noon and after 10 p.m. Sundays. The university defines restricted noise as disruptive of "the function of the University" or that can be heard more than 50 feet from its source.
Ohio State also requires that registered student organizations request to use space for events, including demonstrations, through the university's Office of Student Life.
Tents and other temporary structures that require staking can't be set up without prior approval, according to the guidelines.
Overnight events are also restricted under the space rules.
"Events consistent with the University’s teaching, research, and service missions spanning overnight hours must be confined to a single 24-hour period, with similarly structured events not occupying the same space on consecutive days," the guidelines read. "Outside habitation must not be the primary focus of the event. Overnight events are subject to prior review by the Ohio State Department of Public Safety, Facilities Operations and Development, and the Office of Student Life."
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.
@sheridan120