*sent to Brown community on September 12, 2023

We write today with a reminder of Brown’s policies protecting freedom of expression, including the right to protest and demonstrate. This message shares principles, policies and practices that uphold this right and also safeguard the ability of the full community to benefit from the normal functions of the University.

Academic freedom and open inquiry are essential to advance Brown’s core academic mission. Consistent with that mission, Brown believes that protest and demonstration are necessary and acceptable means of expression.

The University Code of Conduct, which applies to all members of the Brown community, states that, because Brown is an institution that respects and upholds academic freedom and freedom of expression and inquiry, the “time, place and manner of exercising these rights on the campus shall be subject to reasonable regulation only to prevent interference with the normal functions of the University.”

All members of the Brown community are responsible for understanding and abiding by the relevant codes, policies and protocols that define time, place and manner in relationship to protest and demonstration including, but not limited to:

• University Code of Conduct: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/code-conduct
• Code of Student Conduct: https://www.brown.edu/offices/student-conduct/code
• Event Disruption Protocol: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/event-disruption
• Green Space Usage Policy: https://www.brown.edu/about/administration/registrar/university-scheduling-office/scheduling-policies-and-considerations#green
• Invited Speakers and Guests Policy: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/invited-speakers
• Political Activity Policy: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/political-activity
• Poster and Banner Policy: https://policy.brown.edu/policy/poster-and-banner
• Protest and Demonstration Policy: https://www.brown.edu/offices/student-conduct/protest-and-demonstration-policy

Alleged violations of these codes and policies will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for students and student organizations and to University Human Resources for University employees. Some student employees are situationally and simultaneously accountable to multiple codes of conduct.

If you have questions, students should reach out to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards ([email protected]), staff should contact University Human Resources ([email protected]) and faculty should contact the Office of the Provost ([email protected]).

Sincerely,

Frank Doyle Provost

Eric Estes Vice President for Campus Life

Marie Williams Vice President for Human Resources