Note: This letter originally appeared as an e-mail sent to Hopkins faculty and staff community on Monday May 6, 2024.
Dear Johns Hopkins faculty and staff,
We are sharing below the message that went to our students yesterday. We remain very concerned about the safety risks posed by the encampment. We acknowledge the intentions and efforts by our student protesters to manage the site in a safe way; however, as we have already seen at other universities, encampments attract individuals from outside the campus community who are not within the protesters’ control and who may seek conflict and escalation. The rules against encampment are part of our obligation and responsibility to protect our students, faculty, and staff.
As the message below reinforces, the university is following our usual procedures regarding the Student Conduct Code. We support the right to protest, but it must be in accordance with the established rules and guidelines of our community. We offered repeatedly to meet with the protesters on an urgent basis this past weekend. Regrettably, the protesters have refused any meeting before Tuesday afternoon and made clear their intention to continue the encampment for several weeks. Regardless, we will continue our efforts to work toward a peaceful resolution.
Respectfully,
Ray Jayawardhana
Provost
Laurent Heller
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration
Dear Johns Hopkins Stufdents,
We are writing to follow up on President Daniels’ message this week, in which he stated that we are beginning the disciplinary process for students involved in encampment activities at the Beach that violate our Student Conduct Code.
While the university maintains its commitment to free speech and has stated our ongoing openness to meeting with our students participating in the demonstration, we have observed both behavior and statements from protesters that violate our policies and put the safety of our community at risk. We are following existing procedures described in the Student Conduct Code for this process.
Throughout the week, we have heard from multiple members of our community who are concerned about their safety on campus. We take these concerns very seriously and are addressing them through several measures including making Homewood campus buildings accessible by J-Card only and requiring a Hopkins ID to enter residence halls. Additionally, should you feel unsafe moving around campus, please call Campus Security at 410-516-4600 for a walking or vehicle escort on or around our Homewood and East Baltimore campuses.
As a reminder, you can submit reports or concerns anonymously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via the online form or the SPEAK2US hotline at 844-773-2528.
We also want to reiterate that Johns Hopkins is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment free from all forms of discrimination and harassment. Each member of our community is responsible for respecting others, for familiarizing themselves with our anti-discrimination and harassment policy, and for refraining from conduct that violates this policy. Further information is available on the Office of Institutional Equity website; the complete policy can be found here. Public Safety and OIE investigate all reports of harassment on campus, as appropriate.
Finally, we are working to maintain a living and learning experience as close to normal as possible as you prepare for final exams and end-of-year celebrations. We have asked for demonstrators to respect quiet hours beginning at 8 p.m. We have also asked repeatedly for the protesters to remove the signs covering the Johns Hopkins University sign at the base of the Beach that are inhibiting parent and student opportunities for graduation photos. Until that occurs, please know that there are several additional locations that provide iconic backdrops for photos, including the front steps of Gilman Hall, the colonnades on either side of Gilman, the breezeway, Shriver Hall on Wyman Quad, the Hut, and the South Gate.
We are working toward a resolution and will communicate with you about any updates on the protest. In the meantime, please know that we are available to support you and address any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you,
Rachelle Hernandez
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
Branville Bard
Vice President for Public Safety