The Graduate Student Council (GSC) was joined by Samuel Santos, Vice Provost of Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning, who provided an administrative perspective on a free speech resolution, during its Tuesday meeting.
Santos shared the administration’s perspective on the proposed free speech policies. He emphasized the student gatherings with overnight displays or electricity, such as the recently removed sit-in, must seek permission in advance.
The resolution, developed in partnership with the Undergraduate Senate (UGS), calls for “clearer policies regulating the speech of University students,” in response to “increasing campus tensions and hate-based violence, Protected Identity Harm (PIH) Reports, and student protests.”
The council intends to vote on the resolution next week, following more detailed deliberation by the undergraduate and graduate student government representatives. According to Emmit Pert, GSC co-chair and third-year chemistry Ph.D. student, the deliberation includes the sit-in’s recent removal by the University, following negotiations between administrators and sit-in representatives.
Santos expressed optimism that the process would clarify confusion on policies and create more order and clarity as they “help support White Plaza.”
“We advocate for being as flexible with students as possible,” Santos said.
However, Santos also emphasized boundaries around speech. The disruption by student protestors at a Family Weekend welcome session was not permitted, Santos said.
“We can’t have protests interrupting events just because we just disagree, regardless of what the viewpoint is,” Santos said.
Councilor Leon de Souza, second-year sustainable design and construction Ph.D. student asked why the University changed policies around the sit-in a week before Family Weekend. “What was the reason?”
The University did not respond to comment requests about why overnight camping policies were enforced this quarter and not previously.
“Stanford is a top university with several awards, especially in intellectual freedom,” added Liz Park, GSC co-chair and fourth-year chemistry Ph.D. student.
As other universities take a cue from Stanford on free speech policies, “My only question is how Stanford is leading this discussion, especially if it becomes national?” Park asked.
GSC also unanimously extended Jas Espinosa ’18 M.A. ’19, Stanford Student Enterprises CEO and ASSU financial manager’s appointment through June 30, 2025. UGS unanimously passed the resolution during its Tuesday night meeting.
Whit Froehlich J.D. ’24 introduced his bylaw amendment, which aims to amend the joint UGS and GSC bylaws around elections. “I’ve been working on consolidating the elections article in the joint bylaws and the election’s policies,” Froehlich said.
The amendment stated that the joint bylaws include both an article and an appendix section on elections rules, addressing processing confusion. Whitt clarified that his hope was not to change the goal behind the bylaws, but update the wording.