Disruption is conduct by any person that intentionally or
recklessly obstructs, impairs, or interferes with: (1) teaching, studying, or
administration of the university, including the clinical mission of Rutgers
Biomedical and Health Sciences; (2) the authorized and other permissible use of
university facilities; and (3) the rights and privileges of other members of
the university community to engage in educational pursuits. Disruptive conduct
includes but is not limited to the following: obstruction, impairment, or
interference with university sponsored/authorized activities or facilities in a
manner that deprives, or is likely to deprive, others of the benefit or
enjoyment of the activity or facility.
The primary function of an academic community is to discover
and disseminate knowledge through research and teaching. Freedom of expression
is vital to our shared goal of pursuit of knowledge. Such freedom comes with a
responsibility to welcome and promote this freedom, even in disagreement or
opposition. Community members are therefore encouraged to register dissent for
issues and demonstrate that dissent through orderly means.
The right to freedom of expression includes peaceful
protests and orderly demonstrations.
However, the right to protest does not include the right to engage in
conduct that intentionally or recklessly interferes with the university's operations
or infringes on the rights of other members of the community. Faculty,
students, and all other personnel who intentionally act to impair, interfere
with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the university
may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action by university
authorities.
With this in mind, the following administrative procedures
have been formulated to guide the implementation of university policy:
A. In order to ensure that individuals or groups not
intentionally or recklessly interfere with the operation of the university or
the rights of others, they shall not:
1. obstruct vehicular, bicycle, pedestrian,
or other traffic;
2. obstruct entrances or exits to
buildings or driveways;
3. interfere with educational
activities inside or outside any building;
4. harass passersby;
5. interfere with or preclude a
scheduled speaker from being heard;
6. interfere with scheduled university
ceremonies or events;
7. damage property, including
lawns, shrubs, or trees; or
8. engage in any other activities
that disrupt university business or infringe upon the rights of others.
B. The president of the university and the senior vice
president for academic affairs will have the authority throughout the
university to declare a particular activity to be disruptive. The chancellors
of New Brunswick, Newark, and Camden with have the same authority with regard to
their respective areas. The appropriate officers as specified in (B), or a
designee, have the authority to declare a behavior disruptive, and must, if
possible, alert demonstrators that they are in violation of the university's
disruption policy. At this point, the officer has the discretion to call upon
the university police to contain the disruption. Ordinarily, the president of
the university alone, or in his or her absence the senior vice president for
academic affairs, will have the authority to decide that civil authorities
beyond the campus are to be called upon to contain those disruptions that the
university police are unable to handle. In extraordinary circumstances, where
neither the president nor the senior vice president for academic affairs is
available to make such a decision, the chancellors have the same authority in
their respective units.
C. Members of the university community who are aware of
potentially disruptive situations are encouraged to report this to the deans of
students on their respective campus. The deans of students and other university
personnel may be called upon to coordinate or assist members of the academic
community in ending the disruption.
Academic Policies and Procedures 
