On April 25, 2024, Emory University President Gregory Fenves violated Emory's open expression policy by abruptly terminating a peaceful protest brutally and violently, enlisting the police to attack demonstrators with pepper spray, rubber bullets, and tasers. Today Fenves violated the policy again, issuing restrictions unilaterally, completely disregarding long-standing principles of shared governance. His move is contrary to the the policy's clear statement that only the University Senate oversees any revisions to the policy. The university senate was told about the new policies but not consulted. The administration decided unilaterally and abruptly, claiming there was no time to consult the senate since students were already on campus -- even though it had the whole summer beforehand to do so. 

As Emory University Senate President George Shepherd wrote to Fenves, "Indeed, Emory’s Respect for Open Expression Policy (ROEP) itself mandates a central role for the Senate in changes to the ROEP.  Section 8.14.3.2 indicates that changes to the policy come from the Senate after the Committee on Open Expression (the Committee) fulfills its duty to regularly review this Policy and its applicability, and to recommend changes to the University Senate as necessary.  For many years, that is how changes to the policy have occurred: the Committee and/or Senate suggests changes, and then the administration decides whether to adopt them, and usually does."

The university announcement of the new regulations excels in double-speak, making it sound as if it is working with the senate. Do not be fooled. This is absolutely not the case.