The aftermath of students rioting after Super Bowl LIII. Photo contributed by Joe Lachance.
Regardless of who is declared the next president of the United States this election, the University of Rhode Island is preparing for students to exercise their First Amendment rights and organize in protest or celebration.
Emergency Management Director and Assistant Director of Public Safety Samuel Adams and Dean of Students Daniel Graney have worked together within their respective departments to ensure students planning demonstrations, rallies, marches or protests are prepared to follow the University’s policies and new COVID-19 safety regulations.
Their top priority, however, is making sure students feel supported, safe and are coordinated in their efforts in using their voices.
“In the last presidential election we were not prepared, and [that] left the University scrambling in some senses of the term and more so on how to support people that were struggling,” Graney said. “It’s something that we’ve been talking about … how do we support the students that want to protest and that want to march? How do we do that in such a way that keeps them safe and keeps the University safe, but still allows them to express their views, whatever they are?”
Adams said that he, along with the rest of the URI public safety officers, are approaching the situation from an emergency preparedness standpoint. He said the bar on behavior as a nation has changed since 2016’s unprecedented reactions to the election results.
“Our position from an emergency management standpoint is that we always lean forward to be prepared for things, whether it’s a snow storm or protest,” he said. “It really shouldn’t matter that much. Are we necessarily expecting something? No, we don’t have some solid intelligence that tells us, ‘oh yeah, there’s this group that’s going to do this.’ Is it reasonable to anticipate that there could be some level of protest following us? Sure, absolutely.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced public safety to amp up the typical safety regulations and consider URI and the Rhode Island Department of Health’s safety guidelines in preparation for student gatherings during election week. Graney said that any demonstrations ultimately come down to a matter of time, place and manner. He hopes students will alert both departments to prevent any major campus disturbances.
“We really respect the right of our students to protest, as long as it’s peaceful and appropriate,” he said. “Vandalism and looting … that’s a whole different matter. This isn’t a really good time to do spontaneous protests. But if it’s organized, we want to…protect the students, protect [their] right from a health standpoint,” Adams said.
Both departments are fully prepared to utilize their stockpiles of face masks and hand sanitizer to work alongside different student clubs and organizations that are willing to include them in their plans to disrupt. Adams and Graney also want to emphasize that with every protest comes the chance of a counterprotest. The University is prepared to intervene, whether organizers are from campus or outside the community, while also allowing all groups to express their views simultaneously.
“Whatever happens next week, there are going to be some groups that are very unhappy about it,” Adams said. “And unfortunately, this is no longer about which candidate you like better, but all of these really fundamental questions of who we are as Americans, and in terms of racism and everything else under the sun.”
President of URI Democrats Chris Bove said this election year is different in more ways than one. Unlike past years where events such as debate watch parties and election night festivities would take place, the pandemic doesn’t allow for students to gather in political anticipation in the same way.
“There isn’t really much we can do because of COVID-19,” he said. “However, if there is a way for the URI College Democrats to participate in protests from the left in a safe way, I’m sure we will.”
Bove said students are more than justified in organizing protests but he hopes they will do so in a safe manner. He said his top concern is the safety of students and understands that, although the point of a demonstration is to “go against the rules a little bit,” he believes demonstrators must at least stay organized.
Representatives from URI College Republicans did not respond to requests for comment.
A statement released on Monday night on behalf of the Office of Community, Equity and Diversity, as well as Student Affairs, congratulated students who have voted, or will be voting, for the first time and recognized the milestone. The statement encouraged students to practice patience on Election Day, as the number of early mail-in ballots cast has exceeded national records.
The Office of Student Affairs assured students that the University will defend students’ rights to protest in a peaceful manner but will “also be on the watch for activities that run counter to our values of nonviolence, community, equity and diversity.”
Adams and Graney want to make clear that the line will be drawn evenly for any group that interferes with University operations or incites any form of violence.
“We want our students to organize. We want them to embrace ideas, protest, march and disrupt,” said Graney. “But we also want them to do it safely. We don’t want anybody getting hurt.”