Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As students return to the University of Virginia for the new semester, controversy surrounds the administration’s recent update to campus protest policies. Last semester ended in tension, marked by the arrests of protesters on May 4th and the arrival of the Virginia State Police. Now, the university’s updated rules on demonstrations have raised alarms among faculty members. 

Walt Heinecke, a UVA professor and former president of the university’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), expressed concern over the administration’s actions. He stated, “The procedures in the process sort of violated the norms and standards of regular policy review at the University of Virginia.” Heinecke further criticized the rushed nature of the policy changes, explaining, “This is the densest policy initiative we’ve seen in 17 years of experience with university policy matters.” 

The new policies, which include restrictions on where and when protests can occur, have sparked fear that they will limit freedom of expression on campus. Faculty members, led by the AAUP, are preparing to push back against what they see as a violation of shared governance and academic freedom. 

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