Ending campus encampments.

Bill: 118-hres-1212
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Kiley, Kevin [R-CA-3]
Introduced: 2024-05-08
Policy area: Education
Latest action: action_date: 2024-05-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Summaries:
action_date: 2024-05-08
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that&nbsp;canceling classes and commencements in response to unlawful encampments is unacceptable and unfair to the majority of students. The resolution also (1)&nbsp;condemns any negotiation where a university changes its policy in response to the demands of those occupying illegal encampments, and (2) calls on universities to work with local law enforcement to immediately clear tent encampments from university property and restore safe learning environments on their campuses.</p>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1212 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 8, 2024 Mr. Kiley submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Ending campus encampments.

Whereas, in recent weeks, tent encampments have spread at universities across the country; Whereas these encampments are illegal, in violation of university policies, and have become rife with antisemitic threats and acts of violence, harassment, and other disruptive behavior; Whereas some universities have responded by evenhandedly enforcing the law and clearing the encampments, and have emphasized the right of students to protest and express their opinions in innumerable ways, while making it clear that acts in violation of the law or university rules will not be tolerated; Whereas other universities have decided to ignore the law and ignore their own policies, allowing encampments and other illegal activity associated with them to grow unchecked for weeks; Whereas individuals occupying encampments have made demands of universities such as divesting from companies tied to Israel, cutting ties with Hillel campus programs, and ending study abroad programs to Israel; Whereas some universities have negotiated with those in the encampments and agreed to their demands around changes in university policy, such as at Northwestern University, Brown University, Rutgers University, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and the University of California, Riverside; Whereas other universities have canceled classes, moved to online meetings, or canceled graduation ceremonies, such as at Columbia University; the University of California, Los Angeles; the University of California, San Diego; and Emory University; Whereas these encampments and the criminal behavior connected to them, such as threats or acts of violence, blocking or occupying buildings, harassment, or other disruptive behavior, are not protected by the First Amendment; Whereas, to the contrary, they disrupt the operation of the university and the academic freedom and speech rights of other students; Whereas protecting free speech is foundational to the purpose of a university, which means universities should encourage free and open expression in speech, writing, listening, challenging, and learning, while not shielding students from ideas the university disagrees with or limiting expression on the basis of content; and Whereas a commitment to free speech does not mean universities should tolerate harassment, vandalism, the promotion of violence, the destruction of property, the obstruction of freedom of movement, or other unlawful acts: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1) finds canceling classes and commencements in response to unlawful encampments is unacceptable and unfair to the majority of students; (2) condemns any negotiation where a university changes its policy in response to the demands of those occupying illegal encampments, including demands to end study abroad programs to Israel, cut ties with Hillel, and divest from companies associated with Israel; and (3) calls on universities across the country to work with local law enforcement to immediately clear tent encampments from university property and restore safe learning environments on their campuses, and further resolves that noncompliant students, faculty, or staff be subject to appropriate consequences.