Private Colleges Hope New Speech Policies Will Keep the Peace

Following months of demonstrations and turmoil, American University (DC) adopted a new set of policies for the spring semester. As of January 25, all protests inside university buildings are banned. Posters or signs on university property must be “welcoming and build community.” And student organizations need to be open to all students. American’s regulations — which the administration casts less as wholly new policies than as enforcing existing ones — were among several changes from the university that were intended to respond to alleged reports of antisemitism on campus. They came a week after two Jewish advocacy groups filed a complaint with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights that included reports of swastikas drawn on dorm doors and videos of students ripping down and defacing posters about Israeli hostages.