Montclair State University in New Jersey recently made headlines when it backtracked on a controversial protest policy just 11 days after its announcement, as reported by NorthJersey.com.
The initial policy had limited protests and leafletting to a small designated area on campus, while also placing restrictions on silent actions such as displaying signs. This move was met with criticism from members of the community and free speech advocates who argued that it was overly restrictive and infringed upon First Amendment rights.
Following the backlash, the university revised the policy to allow for protests in a broader range of locations on campus. However, the new policy still prohibits such actions from occurring within 100 feet of any building. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) expressed concerns that this restriction still goes too far, stating that it essentially makes most outdoor spaces on campus off-limits to students. A spokesperson for FIRE conveyed these sentiments to NorthJersey.com.
On the other hand, an MSU spokesperson defended the need for the distance requirement, citing the importance of maintaining normal university operations. This is not the first time the university has faced controversy regarding free speech issues. In the past, a student group filed a lawsuit against the university for allegedly preventing them from hosting a gun rights rally on campus. The lawsuit was eventually settled, with one of the conditions being a revision of institutional speech policies to be less restrictive.