I am tired of being harassed by outside organizations that come into the free speech space on campus. Our campus claims to “support the right of the campus community to assemble,” yet allows protestors with no connection to UCCS to invade our spaces.
UCCS claims that their first priority in responding to demonstrations is safety. Yet a couple weeks ago by the UC, I walked past a group of pro-life protestors from off campus arguing with passing women who are not guaranteed to share their beliefs.
I certainly do not feel safe when adults I don’t know try to force a Bible into my hand towards the beginning of every school year. Why are outside organizations allowed to come in during the school year and disrupt my ability to learn by shouting at me, getting in my face and trying to force things on me while I’m just trying to get to class?
UCCS’ Demonstration Response Procedure list says that “safety means physical safety from violence or harm, or safety from specific, imminent and targeted threats of physical harm. This does not include behavior or speech that is … having an emotional impact.”
UCCS believes they only need to protect students from physical harm and threats of physical harm, but emotional harm still has an impact on students and their ability to engage academically that day.
According to the list, the Academic Mission is the second priority of dealing with protests on campus. Stopping students from learning is a clear “[disruption] to the academic mission and university operations.”
Those affiliated with UCCS absolutely have every right to the free speech space. Students should be able to express their beliefs and advocate for what they believe in. However, people unaffiliated with campus need to protest or spread their beliefs in more appropriate spaces.
Students, staff and faculty who participated in the Palestine Liberation Zone last semester did not approach people walking past; rather, they shared their opinions with those who approached them first. Even with their noise demonstration on the first day, they never harassed students who came through and held the protest after the spring semester ended so they would not disrupt the academic mission (also referenced in the Demonstration Response Procedure).
Despite all this, they were heavily supervised by local police throughout the protest. I feel as if this is unfair, as they have been the least disruptive organization to use this space.
Pro-life protestors should focus on protesting outside the capital, speaking at legislative sessions, organizing letter-writing campaigns or canvassing door-to-door for voters, NOT harassing students on a random university campus.
The university has created a double standard by not enforcing its own demonstration priorities of safety, minimizing disruption to the academic mission and constructive engagement when it comes to protestors unaffiliated with the university. By allowing protests from outside groups with hostile approaches to activism, they are failing to protect and support students.
Signs from the Palestine Liberation Zone outside of the University Center in May 2024. Photo by Lillian Davis.