As universities across the US tighten protest regulations, concerns are growing over free speech and faculty governance at the start of the new academic year, with tensions linked to the Gaza conflict expected to rise.
After a spring marked by intense protests, clashes, and arrests at many prominent institutions, university officials are looking for ways to prevent renewed disruptions and apply lessons learned in recent months. They face significant pressure from politicians, alumni, donors, and their own faculty as the US presidential election in November approaches and the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel nears.
John King, chancellor of the State University of New York, expressed concern, stating, “You have to worry. We have been preparing tabletop exercises and exploring civil discourse on how to express different views respectfully and appropriately.”
Many university leaders are emphasizing the importance of free speech and respect for others, warning of strict disciplinary measures for those who disrupt campus life. In a message to students, staff, and faculty, Santa Ono, president of the University of Michigan, underscored the responsibilities that come with freedom of expression: “One person’s right to protest must not infringe on the rights of others, endanger our community, or disrupt university operations.”
Institutions like New York University have committed to enforcing sanctions against students who violate conduct codes during disruptive protests and are centralizing future disciplinary actions into a single team.
The impact of recent protests has been significant, with at least three Ivy League presidents losing their jobs. Many more leaders are facing lawsuits and regulatory investigations over claims of inadequate responses to antisemitic or anti-Muslim incidents.
Legal actions have followed some of these incidents, including a federal judge’s recent injunction preventing the University of California—where clashes occurred in April—from allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students from accessing campus buildings.
Critics of student protests are calling for stricter measures against harassment. The American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a conservative-leaning nonprofit, has issued guidance advocating for rules that forbid encampments and harassment, establish sanctions for violations, and reject calls for divestment from Israel—a common demand in many pro-Palestinian protests.
Harvard University, where President Claudine Gay resigned earlier this year following criticism of the institution’s handling of protests, has tightened its student regulations, consolidating them in one place. The updated rules prohibit activities such as camping, chalking messages, or using amplified sound without prior approval.
However, there is growing concern about the impact of these restrictions on student and faculty autonomy. The Association of American University Professors has cautioned that many colleges have “hastily enacted overly restrictive policies” that severely limit speech and assembly, potentially discouraging freedom of expression and infringing on the rights of students and faculty.
Risa Lieberwitz, a law professor at Cornell University and the association’s general counsel, specifically criticized the University of Pennsylvania, where the president resigned last December. The university’s new “temporary standards” impose restrictions on the use of bullhorns and require prior registration and approval for events in public spaces like its central Locust Walk, including a security assessment two weeks in advance. Encampments and overnight demonstrations are now prohibited. Penn declined to comment on these changes.
Lieberwitz expressed concern that these rules are being implemented without proper governance procedures, warning that they could discourage protests, suppress free speech, and impose harsh sanctions without due process. “It seems these measures are designed to appease politicians, donors, and boards of trustees rather than prioritize the rights of the university community,” she added.
In addition to stricter regulations aimed at curbing disruptions, universities are also focusing on enhancing formal education on topics such as Middle Eastern history and promoting greater tolerance for diverse viewpoints outside the classroom.
Caroline Mehl, CEO of the Constructive Dialogue Institute, a nonprofit she co-founded with academic Jonathan Haidt in 2017, reported a surge in interest in their training programs for college administrators, faculty, and students. The institute is now working with 88 universities nationwide. “We’ve seen rapid growth this past year,” Mehl noted. “Since October 7 and the congressional hearings, demand for our work has significantly increased.”
An Ivy League administrator expressed hope that the lingering effects of COVID-19—which led to a generation of students becoming more isolated and socially disconnected during lockdowns—might be diminishing with the incoming student cohort.
Nevertheless, due to their history, location, and the nature of their communities, some universities, like Columbia and Harvard, are likely to remain under scrutiny in the coming weeks, especially following the recent resignation of Columbia’s president, Minouche Shafik.