Chancellor Andrew Martin’s record on freedom of expression

Chancellor Andrew Martin has made free speech a key aspect of his administration since he was named WashU’s chancellor-elect in 2018. After last year’s protests and dialogue, some members of the WashU community supported Martin’s response, while others called for Martin to resign for his blatant suppression of free speech. Student Life looked at Martin’s record on free speech over the past six years to examine how he has enforced free speech policies on campus.

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Previous statements on freedom of expression

Martin was named chancellor-elect in 2018. During Martin’s first year, he made no online statements, which changed after a disputed presidential election, a storming of the Capitol and the death of George Floyd. During the 2020 election cycle, Martin emphasized the importance of hearing from diverse perspectives on campus to improve our understanding of the world.

“Diverse perspectives help us learn, grow, and uncover knowledge and truth in ways that homogeneity simply cannot,” Martin wrote in October 2020.

According to Martin, however, the presentation of these perspectives has its limits. After the January 6th insurrection, Martin sentenced The attack, which involves violence, cannot be justified on the basis of freedom of expression.

“There will be differences of opinion in politics. But violence is never the answer,” Martin wrote.

The following year, a student removed American flags from Mudd Field to commemorate the victims of 9/11. Martin wrote a statement He said the student who removed the flags caused harm to members of the WashU community.

“Students have the right to express their views, but they also have a duty to respect the expressions of others,” Martin wrote.

Immediately after October 7, Martin said he supports the expression of free speech in various media, including protests.

“Shows of concern, expressions of support – and protest – are all expected and should be welcomed and protected on college campuses, here and elsewhere,” Martin wrote.

In the same statement, Martin also called the phrase “from the river to the sea” harmful, one of the few times in his tenure as chancellor-elect that he noted that certain rhetoric was hateful.

“The hatred associated with the phrase ‘river to sea’ is well understood by most in our community,” Martin wrote. “Their contribution to the community is malice, anger, grief and sadness.”

In Martin’s successor Statement in January 2024, Martin praised WashU’s commitment to “grace, understanding and respect for one another, even in the midst of strong emotions and sometimes passionate disagreements.”

“We will not always agree, but we must always be polite. That’s the bare minimum of what we should expect from each other.”

Martin also spoke on two days about freedom of expression Course He taught on this topic in April 2024 and has taught annually since 2020 with Lee Epstein, Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Southern California.

Protest responses

Martin’s first year as WashU’s chancellor began by combating a three-year movement calling for it The university offers free child care and a minimum wage of $15 per hour to all employees as part of the larger “Fight for 15” movement, a movement that was relatively large undisputed among members of the WashU community.

The first major protest during Martin’s tenure at WashU took place on September 8, 2019 at the Student Activities Fair when students lobbied to raise WashU’s minimum wage, but there were no arrests.

To April 13, 2024About 12 St. Louis students and community members received a court summons for protesting for Palestine during an Admitted Student Day event at Graham Chapel. This event sparked controversy in the following days as many students were vocal in their opposition to the protest. Some called it offensive, others said it was offensive ineffective.

Martin wrote in a statement The following week the protest “[ran] “contrary to who we are” because it disrupted the university’s business operations and therefore violated the law Demonstration and disruption politics.

His hope, he said, is that the WashU community will engage in dialogue without violating the expectations that come with belonging to that community, including mutual respect.

“We are firmly committed to free expression and provide ample opportunity for voices to be heard on our campus. However, we expect that every member of our community recognizes their responsibility to the community and respects our policies.”

Camp answers

To April 15, 2019Eight people who occupied Martin’s office as part of a larger protest to raise the minimum wage were arrested by the Washington University Police Department as a week-long encampment was set up by WashU and St. Louis community members on Brookings Quadrangle. Martin has not made any statements online during this time.

In the months following the Fight for $15, the university increased the minimum wage to $15 for all university employees except doctoral students. Martin did that Announced on June 25, 2019 He cited the movement’s efforts as the reason for the change.

“I recommended this step because it is the right thing to do. The University’s current minimum wage is well above the regional average and federal and state regulations,” Martin wrote. “Nevertheless, we are always open to thinking about how we can further support our employees. I thank those who brought this issue to our attention.”

The 2018-2019 academic year was also the same year as that no warehouse The policy was established at WashU.

About five years later, 100 of St. Louis’ 250 WashU students and community members attempted to set up an encampment on campus April 27, 2024 were arrested later that evening by police officers from multiple jurisdictions.

The week after camp on April 27th, Martin issued a statement To say this is not an expression of free speech but an act of harmful language and behavior.

“Some of the protesters behaved aggressively and brandished flagpoles and sticks. Some attempted to break into locked buildings or vandalize property. There were chants that many in our community find threatening and anti-Semitic. As the group initially lined up outside Olin Library, our police station received numerous calls from students who were in the library and feared they were in danger,” Martin wrote.

Martin said in the end it was the protesters’ decision to be arrested.

“We never want to have this type of interaction with members of our community or our neighbors,” Martin wrote. “They chose to stay and be arrested.”

Many of the people arrested and involved in the encampment that day were St. Louis parishioners, which Martin emphasized in his statement about the event.

“We do not allow anyone – especially those not directly affiliated with WashU – to violate our policies, create chaos, incite fear in our community and prevent us from participating in our regular educational activities and campus life ” wrote Martin.

When asked about the university’s commitment to the St. Louis community earlier this year, Martin said he has made the St. Louis community the “centerpiece” of his administration, but “there’s a line they can’t cross.” “.

Free speech actions this year

This year, Martin has hosted several talks on free expression and published one Op-Ed in the Hill Presenting his position on free speech at WashU.

In his Sept. 4 editorial, Martin said the camp policies that suppressed protests last semester promoted “civic dialogue.” However, during a visit to the student union on September 10, 2024Martin said he is open to rethinking camp policies at WashU.

Martin has also hosted a number of free speech events, including one panel with the President of the Student Association Hussein Amuri on September 4th and another with Washington Post journalist Michael Isikoff and Epstein on September 9th.

At the event with Isakoff and Epstein, several students began protesting while Martin spoke.

“I think it’s great,” said Martin, referring to the demonstrators. “You know, this is an opportunity for members of the community to express their opinions, and expressing opinions and thoughts is exactly what academic communities are about.”

In a subsequent lecture on freedom of expression on September 9, 2024Martin said: “Young people are ready to abandon democratic processes in favor of autocracy.”

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The definition of free speech is controversial, as many hold different opinions about the difference between free speech and hate speech. In Martin’s testimony immediately after October 7, he said WashU offered its definition.

“Freedom of speech is a constitutional right with an implicit social contract – one that requires respectful, responsible members of the community to each do their part to live our shared values,” Martin wrote.

Martin says our adherence to this virtue in the face of adversity will shape the WashU community.

“It is in times of stress and challenge that we discover who we are,” Martin said.

University spokeswoman Julie Flory declined to comment on Martin’s free speech actions during his tenure as WashU’s elected chancellor.