For weeks, IU has been monitoring, giving warnings and even threatening termination to those attending a weekly candlelight vigil that takes place after 11 p.m. on Sundays, an intentional violation of IU’s expressive activity policy.
An unexpected approval from IU confuses organizers
After ESPN's College GameDay program sparked questions about why students who held signs and camped out overnight on university property weren't in violation of the policy, professor Heather Akou decided to seek approval for a candlelight vigil. Akou's request stated the event “to discuss and exercise our First Amendment Rights” would begin at 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.
Upon getting a fast approval, Akou asked whether she needed to specify when the event would end. The response Akou received stated, “Nonamplified sound is okay past 11pm, and so are candles assuming they are not fixated to the ground in any way.”
More:Did Indiana University change its controversial free speech policy? What we know.
When pressed by reporters on whether the policy had changed, however, IU backpedaled. “There has been no change to the Expressive Activity Policy,” IU spokesperson Mark Bode said.
Michael Kersteff, the IU events system specialist who approved the request, followed up with Akou saying, “the event must conclude no later than 11:00 p.m.”
Everything IU has said about the approval and policy so far
Here’s what IU officials have said about the policy and approval so far: