April 29, 2024: A Message from the Chancellor on the Encampment
To the UMass Community:
This morning, an unauthorized encampment was established on university property in violation of several campus policies, including the Land Use Policy, which requires prior approval for the utilization of university property.
This policy, along with ensuring “Activities, programs or events [do] not interfere with official University functions,” ensures that spaces on campus are made available equally and fairly. In this instance, in addition to there having been no request submitted for the use of this property by those occupying it, the space was already reserved for a university event. We were forced to cancel this event.
This encampment is in violation of university policy and those present in it have been notified multiple times and have been asked to dismantle the encampment. Those who continue to not comply will be trespassing.
In all instances, the University of Massachusetts Amherst strongly supports the rights of its students to demonstrate peacefully and exercise their protected rights to speech and assembly.
The presence of unauthorized structures, including tents, is not protected speech. Disruptive behavior is not protected speech. Activities that violate university policy or the rights of others on campus to participate in the regular business of the university are not protected speech.
The university’s policies do not bar lawful demonstrations; to the contrary, they protect the rights of the UMass community — regardless of their political views — to participate equally in the free and respectful exchange of ideas. As we have shared with the demonstrators today, full compliance with university policies, including the removal of tents and other unauthorized structures is required.
We can, and must, be able to disagree with each other and take principled stances while understanding the law and policies that govern our university.
Javier Reyes
Chancellor