Dear students, faculty and staff:

At the close of our first week of classes, we must take a moment to pause and reflect on the mission and values of our great university and all we aspire to achieve in the coming year. Our community has returned to campus, united in renewed ambition and energy, and guided by our commitment to advancing knowledge and discovery.

Amid the excitement of the fall semester, it is important to acknowledge the deep pain that many continue to experience as a result of the ongoing Israel – Hamas war. While the University of Michigan has long welcomed dissent, advocacy, and the expression of the broadest array of ideas, the war has stoked deep division and prompted members of our community and others to engage in forms of speech and protest that have violated our policies and torn at the values that are core to everything we do at the university.

We recognize that many of these individuals have strongly held views. However, we cannot allow the persistent violation of our rules to continue if we want to have an inclusive community where people feel safe and empowered to learn. The university can – and does – regulate the time, place, and manner of speech to ensure one group’s right to free speech and expression does not infringe on the rights of others, endanger our community, or disrupt university operations or planned events.

To be clear, the purpose of the university’s policies is to maintain community, protect the rights of everyone, and ensure a strong learning and work environment. Those policies will be upheld.

On August 28, there was an unauthorized demonstration on the Diag by individuals who did not adhere to university policies or follow the direct written and verbal instructions of Student Life and university public safety officials. The protesters were informed that they did not reserve the Diag and were offered assistance in relocating to another public area, which they declined. The continued disruption ultimately resulted in four arrests. Counter protestors were also told to disperse and did comply. None of the individuals arrested were U-M students, faculty or full-time, permanent staff.

The university has taken care to ensure everyone is aware of our policies through several recent communications, including an August 21 message from President Santa J. Ono, an August 22 message to faculty from Provost Laurie McCauley, an August 23 message to students from Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon, and an August 26 article in the University Record. Our Standard Practice Guide 601.01, Standard Practice Guide 601.41, the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities and the Regents Ordinance support an inclusive campus culture and make clear that disrupting speakers, pathways, and events is not protected speech and is a violation of university policy.

We all share responsibility for ensuring the University of Michigan remains a place where everyone – students, faculty, and staff alike – can study, learn, gather, speak and otherwise engage on campus freely. To that end, we remain committed to protecting the expression of diverse viewpoints and vibrant public discourse, while holding individuals accountable for violating policies that exist to support a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

Sincerely,

Santa J. Ono
President 

Laurie McCauley
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs 

Martino Harmon
Vice President for Student Life