Dear Dr. McDavis:
As alumni of Ohio University and the student-run newspaper, The Post, we are writing to express our dismay and deep concern regarding the aggressive actions by university police against Ohio University students on Feb. 1, 2017. Seventy student protesters were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing while assembling peaceably in the student-funded Baker Center during regular operating hours.
Ohio University is a respected institution, with a national reputation as a training ground for journalists. It should have more respect for the constitutional rights of students to peaceably assemble in public spaces, as enshrined in the First Amendment. Baker Center is a public space, open to students and occupying this space to express political views and air grievances should be encouraged by the university, not met with aggressive police actions or otherwise regarded as a nuisance
We request Ohio University review its policies and call for an immediate end to such a reactive, authoritarian approach to student demonstrations, especially in student-funded public spaces. Students have a constitutional right to assemble. Aggressive, unnecessary action against peaceful student protesters creates an unnecessary atmosphere of animosity between students and the administration. Finally, we call upon the university to close any campus disciplinary proceedings against the arrested students and ask it to refrain from pursuing criminal charges against them.
Ohio University should reassure students that exercising their First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble is wholly consistent with — indeed inseparable from — the university experience.
Sincerely,
Jeff Johnson, BSJ ‘97; Caitlin Price, BSJ ‘04; Andrea Tortora, BSJ ‘95; Caroline Broder, BSJ ‘99; Ellie Behling, BSJ ‘07; Wendy Zang Quattlebaum, BSJ ‘96; Rodger Pille, BSJ '95; Mya Frazier, BA ‘97; Lisa Baggerman Hazen BSJ '93; Megan Patrick, BSJ '96; Amy Leibrock, BSJ '95; Malissa Kash Bodmann, BSJ '97; Chad Kaydo, BSJ '97; Nikki McDonald, BSJ '93; Maggie Downs, BSJ '10 Allie Johnson BSJ '95; Tricia Moore, BSJ ‘97; Rachael Brandon Larimore, BSJ '95; Eydie Cubarrubia, BSJ ‘92; Ann M. Gynn, BSJ '93; Joseph D. Shaulis, Esquire, BSJ '96; Kevin Robbins, MS ‘95; Corey Taylor Bach, BS '95; Lauren E. Dethloff, BSJ '98; Anna Sudar Jeffries BSJ ‘09; Michelle Howry, BSJ '97; Laurie Mansfield, BSJ '98; Nikki Kingery, BSJ ‘91; Ellen Sturm Niz, BSJ '97; Amy Baldwin George, BSJ ‘96; Anne W. DiNardo BSJ ‘95.
