Guiding Principles for Protests and Demonstrations

Bryn Mawr College affirms the importance of free inquiry, open expression, and peaceful assembly as foundational to its liberal arts mission. These principles are set forth in College’s Statement on Freedom of Speech & the Limits of Dissent. The Statement underscores that:

• Speakers are “entitled to express their ideas without hindrance, no matter how unpopular or controversial their ideas might be”
• “Students and other persons who choose to attend events on campus are entitled to hear and see speakers without interference or intimidation”
• “Bryn Mawr’s commitment to the free expression of ideas extends to the expression of dissenting ideas”
• “The College recognizes that the free representation of dissenting points of view is necessary to the climate of open and vigorous debate essential to its educational mission” and
• “Those who wish to dissent from or protest the views of others are entitled to do so, within the limits set forth [in the Statement], without interference or intimidation.”

As set forth in the Principles in the By-Laws of the Faculty and The Honor Code, the College encourages open dialogue and recognizes the rights of both speakers and dissenters to the civil expression of their ideas.

These Guiding Principles are designed to:

• Ensure the safety and well-being of all community members;
• Support the rights of all students, faculty, and staff to express themselves in accordance with campus policies and community standards.
• Protect the College’s academic, residential, and administrative functions from disruption;

These standards apply to:

• All Bryn Mawr College students, faculty, staff, and registered student organizations;
• All events and demonstrations taking place on campus, regardless of whether they are spontaneous or scheduled in advance;
• Any campus gathering, including those involving guest speakers, rallies, teach-ins, or protests; and

All guests, visitors and members of the public who attend or participate in protests and demonstrations on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.  Uninvited guests or others who have no direct affiliation with the College are not covered by the same rights of access, demonstration, or other activity as College affiliates.

The College prioritizes both expressive freedom and institutional integrity. Clarity in policy is critical to achieving that balance. To ensure the broadest possible protections for freedom of expression and support, we provide the following clarifying guidance:

Peaceful Demonstrations and Symbolic Expression

• Students may hold an assembly peacefully on Merion Green provided it does not block building entrances or disrupt classes in progress.
• Marching through campus walkways are permitted as long as pedestrian and emergency access remain unobstructed.
• Hosting a teach-in, vigil, panel discussion, or film screening that addresses a contested or controversial issue
• Distributing flyers and leaflets
• Signs, banners, or chalking in designated areas. For example, chalking on walkways (that are not historic surfaces or safety hazards) is supported.
• Wearing armbands, T-shirts, or buttons to show solidarity with a movement is permissible during class or events, provided it does not materially interfere with instruction.

To ensure that protests and demonstrations do not suppress the free expression of others, threaten the safety of others, disrupt the education of students or operations of the College, or create health, safety, or welfare concerns, we provide the following non-exclusive examples of conduct that would, among other policies, constitute violations of the above Guiding Principles:

• Engaging in theft, vandalism, or destruction of College property
• Entering a private event or refusing to relocate from a building or area that is closed or limited to invited guests
• Preventing audience members from entering an event or disrupting the speaker once the event has begun
• Preventing members of a class from being able to hear a lecture, presentation, or take an exam
• Engaging in expression that targets individuals with harassment, threats, or incitement to commit violence
• Excluding, isolating, or target individuals based on their actual or perceived association with a particular nationality, ethnic, religious, or racial group
• Obstructing passage into or out of College buildings by blocking doorways, pathways, impeding traffic or obstructing the visibility of buildings
• Preventing College employees from entering their workplace
• Interfering with the free expression of others, including defacing, removing, or covering flyers or posters or removing the property of others
• Preventing a speaker from giving a lecture or presentation by shouting or otherwise creating a significant interruption
• Failing to provide identification or identify oneself upon request. Bryn Mawr College affiliates, guests, and/or nonaffiliates participating in protests, demonstrations, or other acts of free expression on our College campus are expected to provide identification upon request.
• Organizing encampments, assembling tents, or temporary structures on campus without prior approval.
• Participating in any overnight demonstrations on any campus location
• Using sound amplifiers (e.g., bullhorns or speakers) inside College buildings without prior approval.
• Engaging in speech, including social media, that threatens the health and safety of our community, incites violence, or constitutes threats or harassment directed at a specific person or group (including threats based on race, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, disability, age, or other protected status).
• Using Bryn Mawr College technical infrastructure, including college computers, networks, licensed services and software, and messaging systems to interrupt college operations, business, or functions, or threaten or incite harassment or violence.

The College reserves the right to modify the Guiding Principles when there is a reasonable expectation that it may threaten safety, suppress others’ right to speech, or disrupt the education of students or operation of the College. Failure to abide by these policies may result in disciplinary and/or legal action, including potential suspension and citation for trespassing. Non-affiliated individuals must comply with college policies and instructions from authorized officials, or they will be escorted off campus.

These guidelines consolidate and clarify existing policies related to events, space usage, demonstrations, and expression. They are intended to support the College community in organizing meaningful gatherings while ensuring campus operations remain safe and effective.

A. Pre-Planning and Accountability

• Bryn Mawr community members are required to comply with the Facilities Use and Reservations policy. Our existing event scheduling platform should be used to reserve locations for speakers or other expressive activities using dedicated space, including tabling, installations, and camping.
• Pre-scheduling demonstration or protest activities is strongly encouraged but not required. Such pre-scheduling can help reduce the potential for conflicts with other scheduled activities and address any health or safety needs through pre-event planning. There may be circumstances in which it is not possible to meet this expectation, for example in the case of a spontaneous demonstration or a protest held in response to an unanticipated event. In such cases, organizers should contact the College as soon as possible.
• Even in circumstances where events are not pre-scheduled, organizers are responsible for ensuring that the demonstration complies with College Policies and all the other provisions of the Guiding Principles and for contacting the College as soon as possible.
• Indoor demonstrations or protest activity will be subject to regular building rules. Priority for space usage will be given to academic programs and College-recognized groups.
• Non-affiliated individuals must comply with college policies and instructions from authorized officials, or they will be escorted off campus.
• Students may invite guests—i.e., those individuals or groups not formally affiliated with the College—to join in acts of public expression on campus, but students and student clubs are responsible for informing their guests of College guidelines and policies and are accountable for the actions of their guests.

B. Use of College Spaces and Event Sponsorship

• Use of large, shared spaces (such as Merion Green or Great Hall) must submit requests at least two weeks in advance.
• Use of space after-hours must be approved by Conference and Events, depending on the location
• Encampments or overnight demonstrations are not permitted in any campus location.
• Structures (e.g., tents, banners on poles) require approval from the Dean’s Office who may consult with Facilities Services as needed to determine impact to campus grounds.
• Demonstrations are not allowed in the following spaces:
  • Private offices, residences, or labs;
  • Libraries, archives, and museums;
  • Classrooms in use or immediately scheduled for any purpose;
  • Campus buildings housing essential operations (e.g., safety, health services, LITS);
  • Sculptures, fountains, or other College art installations.
• ·Bryn Mawr-affiliated individuals and groups may not sponsor events on behalf of non-affiliated organizations to bypass College policies.
• Contracts related to campus events must be reviewed by the Student Engagement Office (for student organizations) or the Office of the Provost (for academic events). Students lack authority to execute contracts on behalf of the College.

C. Sound

• Indoor Spaces: Events that include amplified sound, use of large, shared spaces (such as Merion Green or Great Hall) must submit requests at least two weeks in advance..
• Outdoor Spaces: Amplified sound is allowed in outdoor spaces (e.g., Merion Green) only between 5:00–10:00 PM on weekdays when classes are not in session and does not disrupt the education of students or operation of the College. Demonstration organizers and participants should be aware that the use of public streets for protests or demonstrations is subject to Lower Merion Township and/or Montgomery County regulations and may require a permit.

Requests for sound amplification must be submitted as part of the space reservation process. Sound may not interfere with classroom instruction, College events, or quiet hours during exam periods.

Posters, Signs, Banners, and Chalking

• All registered student clubs/organizations and members of the community must follow the Posting Policy as outlined; failure to follow the policy may result in a social honor board or Dean’s Panel.
• Posters and banners must be removed within 24 hours of an event’s conclusion or within two weeks of posting.
• Only washable chalk may be used and must be limited to ground-level outdoor surfaces. No chalk, signage, or spray paint is allowed on buildings, sculptures, or directional signage.
• Tampering with or removing approved signage by others is a violation of these guidelines.

Livestreaming, Filming, and Media Access

• Events held in college-managed spaces may not be livestreamed without prior approval from the Office of Communications and Marketing and the Dean’s Office.
• Media outlets must present credentials and may be asked to restrict photography or videography to specific areas during demonstrations.
• Media outlets are not allowed inside any Bryn Mawr buildings without approval from the Office of Communications and Marketing.

D. Use of the Bryn Mawr College Name and Branding

• Use of the College’s name, logo, or other identifiers in connection with events or publications must be approved by the Office of Communications and Marketing.
• Personal activities may not imply endorsement by Bryn Mawr.
• Students, faculty, or staff may list their affiliation as needed, but are prohibited from using Bryn Mawr brand elements on personal social media accounts, business communications, or other personal endeavors in ways that might be interpreted as representing Bryn Mawr College.

The College reserves the right to modify the Guidelines when there is a reasonable expectation that it may threaten safety, suppress others’ right to speech, or disrupt the

education of students or operation of the College. Failure to abide by these policies and guidelines may result in disciplinary and/or legal action, including potential suspension, expulsion, and citation for trespassing.

E. Reporting

Reports of doxxing, cyberbullying, threats, or safety concerns should be directed to Campus Safety at 610-526-7911 or submitted through the online reporting portal.

If you ever experience discrimination or harassment, or witness someone else as a target, contact Cary Carr, Associate Director of Civil Rights and Bias Response at ccarr1@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7863.

Other Related Policies

• Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Discriminatory Harassment Policies
• Bias Incident Response