Potential and Actual Violent and Disruptive Behaviour on Campus – Vice-Chancellor's Directives

1. Introduction

The University environment is a popular forum for the airing of political views, making social commentary and expressing dissent. The University acknowledges the right to freedom of speech and encourages its exercise.

2. Directives

Appropriate rooms and other suitable areas within UTS are made available for these occasions consistent with other University uses and requirements on condition that the occasions are orderly and peaceful and do not unreasonably disrupt the business of the University or disrupt others from going about their normal business.

Members of the University – both staff and students – are entitled to conduct meetings, rallies and demonstrations in public areas of the University, provided they do not unreasonably disrupt others from going about their normal business and do not enter non-public areas of the buildings.

UTS Security normally seeks and welcomes advance contact with organisers of rallies and demonstrations to ensure the safety of students, staff, the demonstrators, and others on University property and to protect University property. In so doing, UTS Security has the function of assisting members of the UTS community to exercise legitimate rights to express their view and opinions.

Similarly, UTS Security is responsible to ensure that all reasonable security measures are afforded to VIPs, or other persons or groups on campus should there be any risk that they become the target of the demonstrators. University Security will take such measures as are reasonable under the circumstances to protect property from damage, theft or misuse.

It is important that staff and students allow other groups within the University community to air their views peacefully without fear of retaliation or retribution. Staff and students who do not agree with protesting groups are not entitled to take action to prevent the airing of those views. They are encouraged to allow UTS Security to assess the nature of the protest and make recommendations as to how the respective points of view can best be presented/represented consistent with the principles of rational discussion and non-violence. Under no circumstances should staff or students take it upon themselves to 'police' any demonstration, protest or civil disturbance.

When the Vice-Chancellor has reason to believe that there may be a threat to the safety of people on campus or improper access to non-public areas of the University or damage to University property, he or she should authorise appropriate staff to take steps to determine the risk. Similarly, the Vice-Chancellor should authorise appropriate measures to determine any risk to the reasonable security of VIPs, or other persons or groups on campus where they may become the target of demonstrators.

If the Vice-Chancellor forms the view that UTS staff, including security staff would be unable to handle a potential incident, on behalf of the University he or she should seek the assistance of Police.

In doing this, University officers should engage in careful and considered discussion with relevant Police officers. In the course of such discussions the staff of the University convey the University's commitment to free and rational discussion of issues and to tolerance for the broadest range of views and opinions and modes of expressing them consistent with the values of the University and the requirements of the law.

However, the University accepts that the Police determine in the particular circumstances what level of assistance, if any, they can provide and the lawful measures they need to use to fulfil their responsibilities.

In the normal course of events, the University will confirm any request for assistance to the Police in writing and deliver the correspondence to the appropriate senior Police officer.

The University's Security Officers should take all reasonable steps to facilitate safe and unobstructed access to and egress from buildings and the campus by members of the University and bona fide visitors. In situations of extreme risk, it may be necessary to initiate temporary restrictions or conditions on the movements of persons to protect their safety and security.

3. Breaches of these Directives

All potential breaches of these Directives should be reported to the Vice-Chancellor. Breaches of these Directives by UTS staff may be dealt with in accordance with the relevant Enterprise Agreement, the Rules of the University and the Code of Conduct.

Revision/modification history