University of Rochester: University Punishes Pro-Palestinian Slogan, Eliminates Opportunities for Spontaneous Expression

On November 20, 2023, the University of Rochester announced that, despite directing the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine not to use a specific slogan, which the school did not identify publicly but FIRE understood to be “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” the group used the slogan multiple times and thus violated Rochester’s student code of conduct. The university also announced that going forward demonstrators must notify the school at least three business days before any protest on campus. FIRE wrote the university on December 15, explaining that the slogan, while offensive to many, remains protected in many usages by the university’s strong promises of free expression, as does spontaneous expression on campus, which FIRE called on the university to allow.