As new protest guidelines provoke backlash, students unite to challenge what they see as an attempt to soundproof their voices and curtail political engagement on campus.
Hosted and organized by the Public Service Alliance (PSAC 901), a townhall for students and community on Oct. 30 discussed the “problematic nature” of the new protest guidelines recently issued by the University. The “Sept. 26 where demonstrators stormed the Senate, and one individual threw glitter at Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) Matthew Evans.
READ MORE: Glitter-throwing incident pushes Queen’s to threaten consequences over protest misconduct
The University condemned the protest, stating “this type of behaviour, in making of our community feel threatened and unsafe, is unacceptable.” Due to the disruption at the Senate meeting and concerns for personal safety, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane decided to move all remaining Senate meetings for the calendar year to an online-only format accessible to the public, according to a statement received by The Journal.
“Queen’s University s peaceful protests provided the protest activities and behaviours comply with applicable university policies, collective agreements, and Canadian laws, and do not interfere with the rights of others to use University property and facilities,” the University wrote to The Journal.
According to PSAC 901, the University, as both an employer and educational institution, lacks the authority to dictate the forms of labour actions or political demonstrations that take place on campus.
They contend these policies curb freedom of expression and association, particularly targeting union and those engaged in political advocacy on campus. In their official statement, PSAC 901 criticized Queen’s for promoting political neutrality on both global and domestic issues—a directive the union claims is aimed at discouraging pro-Palestine demonstrations that have recently gained traction on campus.
READ MORE: Patrick Deane establishes guidelines on institutional responses to global events
At the townhall, students and speakers reviewed the guidelines, pointing out their absurdity and suggesting they were a “panic response” and “reactionary” rather than well-considered policies that would genuinely serve students’ interests. Some students also criticized the policy’s vague language, considering it inherently problematic.
“One thing [that stood out] for me was how everything is open to interpretation—their interpretation,” a student speaker said during the townhall. “For instance, ‘excessive sound’ is only what they consider excessive. They can draw arbitrary lines without consistency, so when they decide they don’t want a protest, they can claim it’s breaking these guidelines, but there’s no clear rule set previously.”
Another student emphasized the AMS and the commissioners of the Social Issues Commission (SIC) should address these guidelines and student concerns. However, they noted a lack of responsiveness, with one student suggesting their positions serve merely as a “CV line” during the townhall.
When asked for a comment on the University’s new protest guidelines, the AMS responded with a statement on behalf of its executives. The AMS explained they’re “still familiarizing itself with the updates to the policy, and how it affects Queen’s students.”
After discussing the guidelines, townhall brainstormed ways to resist and respond.
They proposed running awareness campaigns about the guidelines and their impact on students’ rights, as well as reaching out to other unions to their cause. Some suggested speaking with the istration to understand the rationale behind the guidelines, noting a lack of engagement would justify protests due to feeling unheard.
As detailed planning continued during the townhall, The Journal was asked to leave the room to ensure the safety of those organizing the events and to maintain privacy, preventing any further reactions or issues during the planned events.
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