The chancellor of the Seattle Community Colleges system has backed off of the controversial set of rules revisions that had been proposed as a solution to the problems encountered last fall in removing the Occupy Seattle camp from Capitol Hill’s Seattle Central campus. In a statement released Tuesday, chancellor Jill Wakefield said she is pulling the proposed rule set “off the table” and is instead proposing a limited set of updates governing hours of protest, camping and trespassing. Last week, CHS reported on Thursday’s hearing at the Broadway Performance Hall that included dozens of students, faculty and Occupy representatives testifying against the proposed updates which sought to restrict areas of the campus where protest could occur, limit signage and require outside groups to get permission from the administration before holding rallies or protests. Seattle Central’s campus — and especially its brick plaza — has been a regular gathering point for rallies and protests on Capitol Hill for decades. 

Below is Wakefield’s full statement. The colleges board of trustees meets on April 12th to consider the revised proposals.

Chancellor’s Response to the March 27^th and April 5^th Public Hearings

To the Seattle Community Colleges students, faculty, and staff —

We heard the voices of those who spoke at two recent hearings on proposed rules governing public forums at our colleges, and have read the written comments. Based on the feedback, I am taking the proposed Washington Administrative Code rule (WAC 132F-142) off the table, going back to the original (WAC 132F-136), last revised in 1984, and adding three provisions to the original WAC: hours of operation (section 14), camping (section 15), and incorporating Due Process to Trespassing (section 050). I am forwarding these recommendations to the Seattle Community Colleges Board of Trustees for its First Reading at the April 12 meeting.

We Want Your Perspective
Our colleges stand for both safeguarding free speech and providing excellent education. Our policies need to strike a better balance between the two. With your help, we will find that balance.

I will convene a stakeholder group to look at this issue again. We sincerely welcome and need participation from students, faculty, and staff as well as administration and the community to ensure that we are upholding First Amendment rights while respecting all Seattle Community Colleges constituents. We heard your voices. Now we want your help.

I started my career in higher education at the Seattle Community Colleges not long after the 1960s era of protests. I know – and fully endorse – the point of pride that our colleges are responsive to our external and internal communities.

We Heard You
With that in mind, we listened closely when 65 faculty, students and others spoke out at hearings on March 27 and April 5. We scheduled the second hearing specifically so more members of our campus community could attend and speak after returning from spring break. We also received 30 written comments. Both the hearings and written comments are part of the standard process in considering new rules such as this, and the Board and administration take all of them into account in making a decision.

Those comments also included support for several of the proposed changes. At times, members of outside groups have harassed our students and followed them across campus and to their classes. We have been asked to address this concern.

Moving Forward
As we work toward the right balance, we need to address camping, hours of operation, and our trespass policies. Last fall, the Thurston County Superior Court upheld an emergency rule prohibiting camping on our campuses in order to give us time to adopt a permanent rule. The District must move promptly to adopt permanent camping regulations on campus to protect the health and safety of the campus community

Next Steps
The next step in the process occurs at the District Board of Trustees meeting on Thursday, April 12, at 4 p.m. in the First Floor Board Room at the District Office, where the proposed rules will be introduced for a required First Reading. As always, the meeting will include time for public comments. No vote will be taken. The board is scheduled to vote on the rules at its May 17 meeting. Trustees have already received summaries of the recorded testimony, written comments, and video documentation of both hearings.

Thanks to all of you who provided comments, spoken and written, on the original proposal. As we proceed, we look forward to working with you to find the right balance between upholding First Amendment rights and the rights of our students to pursue their education in a safe, healthy environment.