Manor House closed to students, updated protest policy in effect

Fabiola Rio / The Mossy Log

On Wednesday, Sept. 11, President Robin Holmes-Sullivan sent out an essential communication via email to the entire LC Community — including students, parents, staff, faculty and alumni. The email was titled “Protecting our campus community”. The communication was also published on the LC website.

“We recently became aware of plans by a group of students, and potentially individuals outside of our community, to put the campus community at risk and disrupt our operations,” wrote Holmes-Sullivan. “The information we have seen is not a general threat. It is a detailed roadmap that outlines plans to seize campus property through aggressive and, potentially, violent means, to occupy the Frank Manor House, to intentionally disrupt campus operations and to endanger employees and other occupants of the building by physically removing them. The plan indicates the group’s intention to escalate resistance through multiple and indefinite occupation phases, and to use violence against those who attempt to restore campus operations. Unfortunately, plans like these only undermine the good intentions of the majority of our students who want to make a positive difference in the world.”

Holmes-Sullivan shared that a team of experts “examined the plan and deemed the threat credible.” She also noted that the Manor House is now closed to all but essential Manor House staff and that additional security measures are being implemented.

“In addition, given the group’s stated intention to occupy an area outside of the Manor House as a prelude to occupying the Manor House itself, we will not allow the establishment of any encampment on College property,” Holmes-Sullivan wrote.

There was no such rule in May of 2024, when Students for Justice in Palestine, Palatine Hill (SJPPH) organized an encampment during finals week.

Holmes-Sullivan also shared an updated version of Lewis & Clark’s Protest and Demonstration Policy, which was approved by the Executive Council on Aug. 14 — a few weeks before the start of the semester. The previous version had not been updated since Feb. 16, 2022.

Several colleges across the country have updated their protest policies in response to the wave of student protests and encampments in the spring. Protest policies have been updated to include bans on encampments, impose restrictions on the time and place of protests, and require mandatory administrative approval prior to engaging in any form of protest.

LC’s updated policy outlines a detailed but non-exhaustive list of disruptive conduct, and highlights the college’s right to pursue disciplinary action against students who do not comply with the new regulations.

Unlike the previous policy, which addressed students involved in protest, the updated policy applies to “All members of the Lewis & Clark community”.

“Lewis & Clark reserves the right to designate time, manner, and appropriate areas for protests,” the communication states. “Any person engaging in disruptive or disorderly conduct, failing to comply with the directions of a Lewis & Clark official, or otherwise violating College policy is subject to disciplinary action.” 

The current policy includes an additional sentence in the “INTERFERING” subsection of the disruptive conduct section, specifying that “Protests or demonstrations inside libraries, academic areas, residence halls, or administrative or office buildings are disruptive to College operations and are therefore impermissible.” 

It also expands upon the point in the disruptive conduct section that prohibits “IMPEDING a person’s speech or presentation by heckling or inappropriate outbursts” and “BLOCKING the ability of audience members to see or hear a speaker.” The added sentence states that “Speakers are entitled to communicate their message to the audience, and the audience is entitled to hear the message and see the speaker.”

The final change to the school’s updated protest policy is the addition of a lengthy paragraph clarifying the policy’s intent, which comes directly after the outlined examples of disruptive conduct.

“This policy is not meant to prevent members of the Lewis & Clark community from effectively expressing their views,” the policy states. “Every situation is unique and must be considered based on the totality of its circumstances, balancing the needs of the College, the safety of our community, and respect for freedom of expression, the exchange of views, and the ability to dissent. For instance, although a dissenter may not interfere with, block or otherwise impede an invited speaker from communicating with the audience, a member of the Lewis & Clark community would generally be able to engage in orderly picketing outside an event venue in a manner that does not impede access to the venue, distribute literature outside of a venue, or engage in silent or symbolic protest during an event (such as wearing symbolic clothing or turning one’s back on a speaker). Members of the Lewis & Clark community with questions about the interpretation or application of this policy in a particular circumstance should contact the appropriate office mentioned above.”

Holmes-Sullivan clarified in her email that although the school did not discipline students involved in last semester’s protests, students this semester are expected to comply with the College’s updated policies.

“We did not discipline students who participated in protest activities in Spring 2024. We do not intend to pursue disciplinary actions against students who participate in peaceful protest that complies with College policies, or those that work with us in good faith, collaboratively, and as a community,” wrote Holmes-Sullivan. “However, anyone who violates an institutional policy or incites campus violence is subject to disciplinary processes and/or removal from campus. Breaking and entering, assault, and the destruction of property are criminal offenses, as well as violations of College policies.”

The identity of the group behind the plan to occupy the Frank Manor House remains unknown and unverified. As of Sept. 19, no action has been taken to occupy the Frank Manor House or the surrounding area.

This is a developing story. The Mossy Log will continue to gather information and publish factual, independently verified information relating to the plans described in Holmes-Sullivan’s communication, and related matters.

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