Dear Students and Colleagues, 

Yesterday afternoon, a group of students, together with individuals not affiliated with Temple University, took part in a demonstration on our campus. 

The demonstrators convened at the Bell Tower and proceeded to march around campus, stopping at locations that included two academic buildings, Paley Hall and Alter Hall. At each location, they used sound/voice amplifiers, and at times, their presence impacted the flow of pedestrian traffic. This was disruptive to members of the Temple community and presented a potential safety hazard.  

The demonstration did not comply with the university’s on-campus demonstration guidelines in several regards, including the university space/facilities reservations process.  

Throughout the demonstration, the Temple University Police Department and the Philadelphia Police Department were on hand to ensure the safety of the demonstrators and university community. We are grateful for their efforts. 

While I affirm the right of our community members to engage in peaceful and orderly protest, the on-campus demonstration guidelines are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of the community while also encouraging and preserving freedom of expression. As those guidelines note, any demonstration must not disrupt the educational process or business operations. Yesterday’s events are under review for university policy and Student Conduct Code violations. 

Moving forward, I want to remind all members of our community to familiarize themselves with the university’s on-campus demonstration guidelines. Specifically, I also would like to direct everyone to our Use of University Facilities policy and the Space Management and Scheduling policy. 

Thank you for your continued commitment to working with us to provide an environment where all members of our community can feel safe in pursuing their education. 

Sincerely, 

John Fry 
President