The Kirkland Hall sit-in over students’ ability to vote on an amendment to the VSG constitution ended this morning when students exited the building escorted by VUPD officers. According to a statement sent from Chancellor Daniel Diermeier to the Vanderbilt community — which was previously shared with The Hustler — all protest participants who entered the building have been placed on interim suspension.
The email details the arrests and release of the students as well as the arrest of Nashville Scene reporter Eli Motycka.
“Yesterday’s protest at Kirkland Hall was not a peaceful one. It began with the assault of a Vanderbilt Community Service Officer and continued with protesters physically pushing Vanderbilt staff members with the hope of entering and occupying the chancellor’s office,” a university representative said to The Hustler.
The representative explained how the building remained on lockdown with VUPD officers on “high alert” during the sit-in. This information was not included in Diermeier’s email.
“It is in this context that the Nashville Scene reporter, after repeated attempts to enter the administration building through multiple locked doors with signs noting the building was closed and being told by officers it was off limits, was eventually detained, arrested and released without charges filed,” the representative said.
A university representative said it historically has been university practice to grant campus access to members of the media who request and receive appropriate “clearance.”
“In yesterday’s case, though the reporter made his presence known, he did not have permission to access locked administrative buildings, which are on private property,” the statement reads.
Jacob Mchangama, executive director of the Future of Free Speech, a nonpartisan think tank seated at Vanderbilt, issued a statement to The Hustler on behalf of the organization in response to the arrest of the reporter. The organization disapproved of this action.
“We do not condone the use of violence or trespassing as a protected form of protest and would encourage students to demonstrate peacefully in accordance with Vanderbilt’s policy,” Mchangama said. “However, arresting an independent local reporter covering the protest, regardless of his alleged attempts to enter a building without authorization, was a disproportionate response that failed to live up to Vanderbilt’s commitment to free expression and First Amendment ideals.”
Diermeier said the university will work with protestors outside Kirkland Hall to ensure their compliance with university policy on peaceful demonstrations.
“Free expression is a core value at Vanderbilt, as is civil discourse. Our policies allow for members of the Vanderbilt community to protest and demonstrate regarding issues they care deeply about,” the statement from Diermeier reads. “Dozens of peaceful demonstrations have occurred over the past several months. In consideration of safety and the university’s normal operations, we, as a matter of policy, define time, place and manner limitations. “
Diermeier’s statement said the safety and well-being of the Vanderbilt community is a “top priority.”
“The university will take action when our policies are violated, the safety of our campus is jeopardized and when people intimidate or injure members of our community,” Diermeier said.
Diermeier ended his email by encouraging students to move forward despite differences.
“A university community, by definition, will rarely be in full agreement on any issue,” Diermeier said. “The challenge is to move forward together despite our differences, based on our shared values and common purpose. This is what we must do—and what we shall do in the days to come.”
