Student Handbook: Demonstrations/Protests

Relevant Excerpt

Members of the Kenyon Community should always be free to support causes by orderly means. However, members of the community may sometimes determine that circumstances call for demonstrations that are somewhat disruptive. In such an event, any action taken by a community member which calls for sanction or penalty will not be penalized more strictly or harshly for having occurred during a protest or demonstration. This is an essential extension of support for the free expression of ideas. The College stresses that it deplores acts of violence and any encouragement of violence, and it will make reasonable efforts to prevent violence and protect community members.

...

All members of the Kenyon Community may engage in peaceful demonstration (including, but not limited to, rallies, gatherings, protests, parades, and processions) on campus. However, disruptive conduct is not permitted.

Disruptive Conduct is conduct that substantially obstructs, impairs, or interferes with: (i) teaching, study, research, or administration of the College; (ii) the authorized and other permissible use of College facilities, including meetings of College students, faculty, staff, administrators and/or guests; or (iii) the rights and privileges of other members of the College community.

...

1. In no case is notification of an internal protest a requirement. However, it is beneficial to all parties if relevant campus personnel, particularly Campus Safety, are informed of plans in advance.
2. For an internal protest anticipated to be large in participation or space occupied, to be disruptive to movement or operations, to be long in duration (roughly over 24 continuous hours or extending over several days), the organizer is strongly encouraged to contact a representative of the College, be that Campus Safety, the VP for Student Affairs, the Dean of Students, the Provost’s Office, or other relevant offices as staff members may deem appropriate. In most cases, College representatives will then coordinate with Campus Safety, if they were not the first contacted. Where practical, such contact is more useful several days (at least) before the protest or demonstration.