We have established this Office of Rules Administration webpage to provide relevant updates to the University community regarding the Rules Administrator's current interpretations of the Rules of University Conduct. The Administrator's postings on this page are viewpoint and content neutral and may be updated to reflect developments in facts or circumstances. This page is part of an ongoing effort of the Office of Rules Administration to provide our community with a clear understanding of the Rules of University Conduct and the processes under which they are applied.
Posted at 1:40 p.m. on Monday, December 9.
As we enter this period of study days and final exams, we all must be mindful that our students, faculty, and staff are fully engaged in completing coursework, finishing final papers, preparing for and taking exams, and fulfilling other end-of-year requirements. It is particularly important during these last weeks of the semester that we respect the hard and focused work that our community is immersed in and do all that we can to maintain an academic and campus environment that supports their work. During this critical period of the semester the risk of disruption of academic activity by protests and demonstrations is more pronounced. Such disruptions would constitute violations of the Rules of University Conduct and would be processed accordingly.
Posted at 1:55 p.m. on Thursday, November 21.
We received an unsigned notice through our Events Notification System that a group of about 75 participants intends to protest between 5 pm and 7 pm on November 21st in the 4th floor lobby of the International Affairs Building, followed by a march through campus.
Given that there are 448 registered students in 13 classrooms on the 4th floor at that time, this notice raised serious concerns that the proposed demonstration would interfere with the ongoing academic activity in that location and therefore create the possibility of a violation of the Rules of University Conduct. Over the past several days there has been broad consultation with University leaders, members of the University Senate, Public Safety, and students to determine how we could provide logistical support in a way that would permit engagement in free expression while guaranteeing the safety of our campus community and maintaining our academic mission without disruption.
It is our understanding that the protest may now take place outside of the International Affairs Building at the designated time. This significantly reduces concerns about campus safety and academic disruption. Delegates will be on site to remind and advise participants of the Rules and potential violations. Should participants gather in IAB, they will be directed to an outside location to ensure there is no safety concern or academic disruption.
Our objective for this advance communication to the community and potential protest participants is to ensure that the safety of our campus community is preserved, that academic activities can proceed uninterrupted, and that our students can engage in free expression consistent with the University's rules and policies.
Posted at 1:55 p.m. on Thursday, November 21.
On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, a group of students erected a sukkah without following policies for student event review. The University Outdoor Space Policy requires that space be reserved in advance and that all structures be ordered through Facilities. These policies are content neutral and apply equally to both religious and non-religious events. The Office of Religious Life had previously engaged the students involved and let them know that erecting the structure would be a policy violation, and later asked them to take down the structure to avoid possible policy violations. The students, having been advised of possible violations, chose to erect and maintain the sukkah as a campus demonstration. On Wednesday evening, October 23rd, 2024, the students dismantled and removed the Sukkah.
The Office of Religious Life, which is committed to providing the resources needed for our entire community, shared information on its website and through student dean channels about the many sukkahs that were available across our campuses. The Office of Religious Life sukkah, made available to all students for the duration of the Sukkot holiday, was located in front of Fairchild and open from 8:00AM to 8:00PM daily. This sukkah was erected to ensure that everyone in the Columbia community had access to a sukkah where they would feel welcome, irrespective of religious or political beliefs.
All actions by participants in connection with this demonstration will be evaluated fairly and consistently under applicable University policies and processes, including the Rules of University Conduct, to determine whether violations may have occurred. If violations are identified, charges will be pursued through the appropriate process – the Rules of University Conduct and/or Deans Discipline.