EMMA PIRHALA / NEWS EDITOR

Last year’s escalation of tension in the Middle East brought conflict to college campuses across the country. Notable student-led protests, such as those at Columbia University, the University of Southern California and the University of  California  Berkeley, stirred up controversy — causing a national divide over the right to protest on campus. In light of those events, California recently signed a bill  into law, requiring public universities to adopt procedures that regulate protests.

Known legally as SB 1287, the law sets four new regulations for the California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) systems. These include adopting policies that prohibit violence and harassment into codes of conduct, requiring regulations establishing mandatory training for students about protests and speech, banning student conduct which impacts another student’s ability to engage in free speech and obligating all students to acknowledge  the codes of conduct. 

The USD Vista reached out to the University’s Media Relations team for comment on the campus policies regarding protests. In response, the press team directed The USD Vista to the University’s policy on assembly, listed on the USD website. However, USD’s assembly policies have not been updated since 2010. In the time since the regulations were last updated, many national and international events have been the subjects of major protests. 

USD’s current policy prohibits illegal activity and property destruction, any actions which would endanger  the safety or well-being of students and any conduct that obstructs participation of others in an event. If an assembly were to violate this policy, all participants must terminate their protest or USD’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) or the San Diego Police Department (SDPD) will intervene. The policy further states that the Vice President for Student Affairs or DPS determines whether or not an assembly violates the rules and the appropriate consequences. 

Author of the law, California State Senator Steven Glazer (D-District 7), cited campus protests regarding conflict in the Middle East as his reasoning behind his bill at a Senate Committee Hearing on Apr. 10, 2024.

“As an example [of violent protests], two students at UC Berkeley just a month or so ago were forced to seek medical attention after an event featuring an Israeli speaker was boycotted … Students were spat on, called Nazis and dirty Jews,” Glazer said. “Meanwhile, campus security was clearly overwhelmed and unprepared to protect these Jewish students from this obvious anti-semitism. Our colleges have a responsibility to promote free speech while preventing discrimination and harassment. This bill aligns with that responsibility by requiring campuses to institute policies that explicitly prohibit violence, harassment, intimidation, and discrimination, including interference with free speech and or support for genocide.”

The motivations of SB 1287 caused uproar from pro-Israel organizations. Hillel of San Diego, an organization that directly serves USD through the Jewish Student Union  (JSU), shared their support for SB 1287. USD senior and JSU President Jed Edelstein expanded on why the student organization supports SB 1287. 

“Myself and the members of Hillel at USD support California Assembly Bill 1287 because we are committed to protecting the safe and inclusive environment that has been cultivated at our university,” Edelstein explained. “It’s important for our Jewish voice to be heard and not forgotten as an integral part of the community at USD. This bill aims to strengthen our ability to conduct peaceful and meaningful social awareness activities, while also equipping the school with the necessary resources to effectively address behaviors that threaten our students’ well-being.”

In contrast, students supporting Palestine hold differing perspectives regarding the new law. The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) is an on-campus organization for those wishing to show their support for Palestinian people affected by the conflict in the Middle East. PSC commented on their stance about SB 1287 in a statement to The USD Vista. 

“The Palestine Solidarity Committee at USD fears that SB 1287 will usher in harmful repression of student’s free speech and academic freedom,” the organization stated. “Although SB 1287 is directed at public universities, it sets a dangerous precedent for limiting students’ first amendment rights across all California campuses. Students have historically been at the forefront of anti-war movements, from ending the Vietnam War to ending South African apartheid and now ending the genocide in Palestine. SB 1287 can limit student’s First Amendment rights on campuses across California.”

As violence in the Middle East continues to escalate, student organizations remain devoted to their causes. However, questions regarding the future of freedom of speech and assembly on college campuses  persist as new legislation is introduced. Although the bill does not impact the University directly, questions still remain as the law affects other campuses. 

The Palestine Solidarity Committee at USD protested on the Paseo de Colachis on Oct. 22. Shannen Swars/The USD Vista