Northeastern’s demonstration policy currently prohibits all members of the university community from protesting without the permission of the Center for Student Involvement (CSI). To receive permission, CSI requires student organizations to submit a Demonstration Permit Application form “at least 7 days before [the] organization intends to demonstrate on campus property.”

Northeastern is a private university, meaning they aren’t bound by the First Amendment. Nevertheless, Northeastern’s student handbook claims that “students enjoy the same basic privileges . . . as all citizens.” For this to be true, Northeastern must change their demonstration policy.

Why does this policy need to change?

• It infringes on people’s rights to freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly
• 7 days is the difference between a pressing issue and last week’s news—timely protests receive more attention from media organizations
• CSI has the power to withhold approval from any planned demonstration
• Only students in student organizations can plan protests
• Faculty, staff, vendors, volunteers, and other non-student members of the university community have to rely on student organizations to make their voices heard

What do demonstrations matter?

This past spring, Northeastern students displayed powerful solidarity with the dining workers. In order to advocate for workers’ quality of life, the students had to work through student organizations. To this end, they reformed the Huskies Organizing With Labor (HOWL) coalition. This coalition held one of the largest demonstrations ever seen on campus.

If HOWL were to demonstrate with the exact same reasons and same people but 1–2 days before receiving CSI approval, the student organization could have been shut down. How is this fair?

College campuses have played a crucial role in propelling social change over the past century. More liberty to freely demonstrate on campus will propel social and cultural justice.

As it stands, however, Northeastern’s protest policy hinders expression and conversation.

What should the new policy be?

To acknowledge the fundamental human rights of their faculty, staff, and students, Northeastern must change their demonstration policy. All members of the university community should be able to exercise their rights to expression and peaceful assembly without CSI approval and a sponsoring student organization.

To meet these goals, Northeastern should honor students’ First Amendment rights the same way all public universities do.

Join the conversation

FIRE’s executive vice president, Nico Perrino, will be speaking at Northeastern on November 15 about the importance of free speech as a part of the Ortelian Society’s fall lecture series on speech and discourse.

Further reading

• "Op-ed: NU’s protest policy needs to go" by Arien Wagen
• “Speech Code of the Month: Northeastern University” by Laura Beltz, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
• “Stifling student voices” by Yvonne Abraham, The Boston Globe
• “2022-2023 College Free Speech Rankings: Northeastern University” from College Pulse and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

(Photo credit: Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University)