UL Lafayette is a public institution and is committed to the free, safe and lawful expression of ideas. Open dialogue is fundamental to the Сòòò½APPСòòò½APP™s academic mission and its role in advancing the public interest.
Maintaining an environment of rational and critical inquiry requires hearing a multitude of opinions, even those that may differ from each other and that may differ from our own as individuals.
The Сòòò½APP community witnessed this firsthand over the weekend. Several demonstrations occurred on or near campus that articulated views from across the political and social spectrums.
The opinions expressed by these groups Сòòò½APP“ and their right to peacefully assemble on the Сòòò½APPСòòò½APP™s campus Сòòò½APP“ are protected by the , , and .
The demonstrations that occurred this weekend were orderly, safe, respectful and closely monitored. And, the Campus Free Speech Policy is designed to ensure that all rallies that happen on Сòòò½APP property are as well.
The policy governs the time, place and manner in which demonstrations on campus can occur. It prohibits the incitement of violence, the destruction of property and the endangerment of participants or others.
To restrict groups from campus altogether would violate their rights, these statutes and the Сòòò½APPСòòò½APP™s own commitment to serving as a forum for diverse views and voices.
However, the Сòòò½APP has another unwavering priority Сòòò½APP“ and thatСòòò½APP™s to ensure the health and safety of every member of its campus community.
Louisiana law has identified UL Lafayette, and all public schools, colleges and universities in the state, as gun-free zones. .
There were individuals at one of this weekendСòòò½APP™s events who were carrying firearms. The UL Lafayette Police Department, in collaboration with local and state law enforcement, closely surveilled their activities, and initial reports are that one individual crossed campus boundaries for a short period of time. The individual was removed from the campus premises and was not considered an immediate threat.
This was in violation of the Louisiana statute that defines campus gun-free zones, and the Сòòò½APP is investigating.
UL Lafayette is fully committed to enforcing the stateСòòò½APP™s campus gun-free zone law.
The campus is protected by a significant surveillance system and a well-trained, professional police department. To further protect campus, ULPD, along with its law enforcement partners, has increased patrols around and throughout campus, including residence halls and other communal spaces.
UL Lafayette will continue to balance its obligation to the wellbeing of its entire campus family with its role as a forum for the free, safe and open expression of diverse viewpoints.