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Dear AU Community,

As we watch events and turmoil at universities around the country, we are focused on and committed to safety and freedom of expression in our community. Throughout this semester, members of our community expressed their views in numerous ways and will continue to do that.

The University’s Free Expression policy protects the ability of our community members to say what they think, to express political opinions and advocacy, and to protest. However, as the policy makes clear, the university also can make reasonable and viewpoint neutral time, place, and manner restrictions, especially regarding conduct that interferes with or compromises university operations. 

With difficult situations and tensions on many campuses, we want to provide clarity about tents and encampments. Given the current climate, no camping activities are permitted in any demonstration or protest on university premises until further notice. As our community prepares for final examinations and the significant campus events that mark the end of the academic year, activities involving camping on university premises will negatively impact the availability of university resources and interfere with university operations. While expressive activity may occur in outdoor spaces consistent with the Free Expression policy, the use of tents and other camping equipment at this time is not permitted and will be immediately addressed. Additionally, any participants in any demonstration who are not affiliated with the university are not permitted on campus and will be removed.

We also want to remind members of our community that indoor demonstrations or protests continue to be prohibited. We will proactively engage with demonstration participants to address safety concerns or incidents that interfere with university operations or violate policies, with a focus on de-escalation. It is expected and required that demonstration participants respond to this engagement and cooperate with the university to address concerns. Any demonstration that continues to interfere with university operations or violate policies after engagement and de-escalation will not be permitted, and those responsible will face conduct actions, disciplinary sanctions, or arrest as appropriate.

This approach is consistent with our commitment to freedom of expression and supports continued community safety and university operations as we enter the critical exam period. It enables our teams to focus on supporting our students as they complete the semester.

In difficult times, it is vital that we as a community respect one another and refrain from creating situations that risk the safety of our campus or other community members. At the same time, we maintain the spaces and opportunities for free expression of ideas across our community. By setting clear expectations and adhering to our policies, we can navigate these challenging topics and fulfill our primary mission of education.

Sincerely,

Vicky Wilkins 
Acting Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Bronté Burleigh-Jones 
CFO, Vice President and Treasurer

Raymond Ou 
Vice President of Student Affairs