The Florida State University Board of Trustees on Thursday overhauled regulations about campus demonstrations. The changes came after pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent months have led to arrests of dozens of protesters at Florida universities amid the war between Israel and Hamas.
Under the revamped rules, people or groups that plan “meetings, assemblies, picketing activities, demonstrations, protests and gatherings” on FSU’s campus will have to give advance notice to the university to ensure available space and adequate security.
The university also is spelling out more than 20 categories of prohibited conduct during “authorized functions, activities, and events” at FSU. For example, blocking entrances and exits to campus buildings, building barriers or physical structures, disrupting educational or administrative activities or operations and wearing masks or devices that hide people’s faces are prohibited.
Read: Black Florida Farmers Could Get Marijuana Licenses
The rule changes also seek to prevent people or groups from having “exclusive use of any area” on campus without approval.
“Expressive activities in outdoor areas that have been reserved by the university or another individual, group, or organization for use through established university procedures are subject to removal or relocation under the parameters of this regulation,” the regulations said.
Other changes include requiring that such things as public-address systems be used at “reasonable” sound levels.
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.