Ohio State president 'will not compromise' on safety as campuses face Gaza war protests
Sheridan HendrixIn an end-of-the-semester email sent Monday afternoon to the campus community, Ohio State University President Ted Carter followed up on communication from over the weekend with a reminder of the university's stances on protesting and free speech.
On Saturday, Ohio State said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) that hate speech is "deplorable and does not align with our values, even if allowed under the First Amendment."
The post came following a couple of campus protests in the past few days over the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza. Video clips from one of those protests were shared on an Instagram account belonging to StopAntisemitism — "a grassroots watchdog organization dedicated to exposing groups and individuals that espouse incitement towards the Jewish people and State and engage in antisemitic behaviors," according to its website.
In his email, Carter said that college campuses "must be places where we can process these events through respectful discussion and debate."
"We are here together to learn from one another and hear new and different perspectives — including those with which we disagree," he said.
Carter said he wants students, staff and faculty to stand up for what they believe in, and that Buckeyes should "dedicate ourselves to using our voices with civility and compassion."
"I remain steadfastly committed to maintaining an environment where all members of our community feel welcome while continuing to uphold the First Amendment and the laws of our state and nation," Carter said.
Cater added that Ohio State will "continue to prioritize safety," including having university police officers and trained staff on-site for demonstrations, and enforcing space rules that prohibit "intentional disruptions of university events, classes, exams or programming, including commencement."
Carter also warned that when protected speech becomes threatening, "Ohio State has and will always move quickly to enforce the law and university policy."
"I will not compromise on this," he said.
Carter asked that people consider their words wisely.
"Even if speech is protected, is it how you would talk to a member of your family or a friend?" he said. "Displays of hate speech on our campuses, even if allowed under the First Amendment, are reprehensible and do not align with our values. Ohio State must be a place where all are welcome and safe."
Remarks come as campuses face protests nationwide
The Hamas-Israel war has sparked protests on college campuses across the country since shortly after Hamas attacked Israelis on Oct. 7.
More than 100 people were arrested last week at a pro-Palestinian protest atColumbia University in New York City over Israel's military actions in Gaza. Columbia administrators announced Monday that it would move to hybrid classes for the rest of the semester because of the protests.
The student groups were also protesting the university's financial investment in "corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine," the group told USA Today.
Students were forcibly removed by police from tents pitched on lawns at the center of campus.
Police in New Haven, Connecticut arrested several dozen protesters at Yale University on Monday and charged them with trespassing during a protest demanding Yale divest itself from weapons manufacturers that supply Israel with arms.
Harvard University has restricted access to Harvard Yard until Friday in anticipation of pro-Palestine student protests during the Jewish Passover holiday.
Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here.
@sheridan120