University Of Chicago To Reevaluate Campus Protest Policies

By aaroncynic in News on May 7, 2013 7:30PM

The University of Chicago administration is investigating several instances of civil liberties violations which happened earlier this year at demonstrations meant to call attention to the lack of an adequate trauma center on the South Side.

At a rally in January, police shoved, wrestled to the ground and arrested several demonstrators, charges for which were later dropped. In February, an undercover detective attended a rally to gather intelligence on demonstrators. DNAinfo reports the University created a committee to report on both incidents, which will be released sometime in the fall.

“It is incumbent upon all of us who are part of this extraordinary university community, and very specifically incumbent upon the president and provost, to protect these values and our legacy of commitment to free expression, discourse and inquiry,” said President Robert Zimmer.

On May 13, the University will host the first of several public meetings on the matter. The first will deal with how police, protesters and administration can better communicate and if demonstrations at research and medical facilities should be handled differently from other protests.