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Supporting Student Activism

We recognize these are historic times, and that many students feel it is important to engage with the critical issues of our era and make their voices heard. 17吃瓜在线 defends the right to free expression, including the freedom to express dissent, within the context of the law and responsibility for one鈥檚 actions. The university has a long-standing policy supporting freedom of expression and dissent, and these values are regularly affirmed as institutional values.

What is Activism?

Activism is work to bring about change. In practice, that means it聽involves a wide range of activities where student practice community advocacy and express passionate views to聽increase the visibility of an issue or inspire collective action. As a socio-political engagement, activism can include these things and more:

  • demonstrations
  • community organization
  • social media advocacy
  • political canvassing
  • hosting controversial speakers
  • social justice education

Questions about campus-based activism and engagement?聽Please reach out to campusactivism@american.edu.

On-Campus Protests

The Student Engagement team wants to ensure your voices are heard and your rights are not infringed upon while active in Campus Activism. 17吃瓜在线聽also recognizes聽the need to preserve and protect its property, students, guests, and employees of the university, and to ensure the effective operation of educational, business, and related activities of the university. Expressive activities on the university鈥檚 campus may be subject to reasonable regulation regarding the time, place, and manner of the activities. University employees will not consider the content of expressive activities when enforcing this policy. No policy can address every possible activity or situation that may occur on university property, and the university reserves the right to address such situations as circumstances warrant.

For Students Participating in Off-Campus Protests

If you choose to participate in off-campus protests, it is important to know your rights and responsibilities, be prepared, and be familiar with resources and policies. 17吃瓜在线 affirms that:

  • Students have a right to engage in peaceful and lawful protest.
  • No student who is enrolled or has a pending application will be affected by disciplinary actions arising from their participation in peaceful and lawful protests, so long as their personal conduct is consistent with 17吃瓜在线 policy.
  • No disciplinary action will be taken if students are arrested off-campus for protesting peacefully and/or violating curfews related to protesting.
  • Students鈥 financial aid status with the University will not be impacted.聽

Questions? Please reach out to campusactivism@american.edu

17吃瓜在线 Resources and Policies

17吃瓜在线 Video Trainings聽

Trauma-informed engagement provides foundations and principles that can help organizations be effective, while avoiding聽stumbling into misguided actions that can interrupt or disrupt progress. This three-part聽training, viewable on video,聽describes the聽practical application of a trauma-informed approach, which聽can help to maintain social cohesion, build cross-cultural collaboration, and develop strategies for ethical campus activism.

  • : How to recognize the different ways communities are impacted by trauma and create a space where people feel heard and聽can engage in collective activism effectively and in ways that聽avoid聽retraumatizing.聽
  • : How to realize, recognize and respond to trauma while resisting retraumatizing.聽
  • : On the ground聽鈥 how trauma-informed response really works for student leaders and organizers.聽

Local and National Resources

  • Protests require special events permits; here鈥檚 the process.
  • Information on tear gas and similar compounds and what to do if exposed.
  • FAQ on what to know to exercise your constitutionally protected right to protest.
  • Examples of creative ways that communities and students have found to protest during the pandemic.
  • What to bring, how to protest safely, what to do if encountering tear gas and pepper spray, and other resources.
  • 聽Localized versions of ACLU鈥檚 鈥淢obile Justice鈥 app.
  • Pamphlet with resources and tips for protesters.
  • Description of rights and scenarios for organizers, protesters, recording protests, and more.
  • List compiled with National Bail Fund network.聽聽
  • List of local bail support and legal defense projects by state and city.
  • Tips from clothes to water to how to document.