Roll Back UIUC's Restrictive Free Speech Policies!

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Administration

Recent amendments to the University policy have been made in the summer of 2024 in an effort to tamper down student demonstrations. Progressive organizations and their members on this campus have already faced unjust consequences under these policies for exercising their right to free speech. These changes are not only widely disagreeable, but also unconstitutional.

FO-82: 2h Noise: "Conduct, must not create, or assist in creating, a Noise Disturbance."

This policy is unconstitutional as the precedent was set in Cox v. Louisiana. The [Supreme] Court was unanimous in finding the "disturbing the peace" statute unconstitutionally vague.

According to the Illinois Campus Free Speech Act: "freedom to discuss any problem that presents itself, as the First Amendment permits and within the limits of reasonable viewpoint and content-neutral restrictions on time, place, and manner of expression that are consistent with this Act and that are necessary to achieve a significant institutional interest; provided that these restrictions are clear, are published, and provide ample alternative means of expression."

The University's restrictions are unclear, allowing them to pick and choose which demonstrations are breaking the rules and punish them. The University also has not provided ample alternatives for students to express their opinions.

These are likely not the only examples of breaches of free speech by this administration, but instead the most egregious. We are certain we will find more unconstitutional policies the further we dig.

Follow @UIUCYDSA on Instagram for future updates.

To: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Administration
From: [Your Name]

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign claims to “strive to foster an environment defined by diversity, inclusion, and openness” with an especial commitment to “the open exchange of ideas and values through expressive activity.” In light of recent changes to expressive policy on campus, students rightfully recognize that the University has made a fundamental misstep in achieving these goals.

Over the course of these past couple semesters, members of the student body engaged in expressive activities -- protests, marches, assemblies, etc., have found their movement to be greatly constricted as a consequence of new policy as well as the harsher enforcement of old policy. This new attitude by the University tells demonstrators where to move, how to move, how loud they can be, among a litany of other requirements. As demonstrators attempt to delicately pass through these narrowing hoops set by the administration, they nevertheless are subject to excessive intimidation and surveillance by the police or by the University itself. This is all without mention to the very real academic and legal charges that have already been imposed on students.

Our students, representing an enormous diversity of backgrounds and values, feel the new risks involved in expressive activity, and they demand change. They demand respect. They demand dignity. And they demand the ability to carry out what has been one of the cornerstones of American society for hundreds of years -- the ability to peaceably assemble and speak without unjust repercussions. Students want to maintain the ability to advocate for a fairer, more equitable world for themselves, their community, and in this institution. By clamping down on this inherent right, this value is in effect greatly compromised. In doing so, the administration continues to lose the faith and trust of its student body.

We demand an immediate rollback of the recent amendments seen in “Reservation of University Property” (FO-81), “Expressive Activity on Campus (FO-82), and “General Use of and Access to University Property” (FO-15).

We demand the policies existing prior to these new amendments undergo a revision process with the aid of an unbiased third party specialized in free speech law.

We demand the right to free speech be recognized on this campus as defined by the federal and state constitution as well as the Illinois Campus Free Speech Act.