It is clearly inevitable, and indeed essential, that the spirit of inquiry that the university seeks to encourage will produce many conflicts of ideas, opinions and proposals for action. Marquette has a demonstration policy in place to balance the right of university community members to freely pursue their academic and vocational objectives without unreasonable obstruction or hindrance, along with the right of university community members to freely communicate by lawful demonstration and protest.
Following feedback that recent demonstration policy updates were unclear or otherwise open to interpretation, university leaders are revising the policy and will then meet with leaders from University Academic Senate, University Staff Senate and Marquette University Student Government leaders, as well as secure input at the September University Academic Senate meeting. The goal is to ensure the language and construction are clear and fully articulate the policy’s purpose.
“After hearing from members of our community, we realize that the policy should be clearer so that its intended spirit and practical application are understood,” Acting Provost Kimo Ah Yun said. “In the interest of ongoing dialogue and continuous improvement, I and other university leaders will meet with key campus stakeholders to further examine the policy. As an institution, we want to appropriately balance the need for practical policies with our commitment to shared governance and the free exchange of ideas, which are foundational to our Catholic, Jesuit mission and Guiding Values.”
Following those meetings, the university will share the updated policy via Marquette Today.