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LETTER: UNC tent rule impacts demonstration

Posted on April 19, 2012April 18, 2012 by Staff

On Tuesday morning we were threatened with arrest while sitting in the Pit, a common gathering area at the heart of UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus. Why? Because we were sitting next to a tent, which violates university policy. As Department of Public Safety spokesman Randy Young commented in Wednesday’s Daily Tar Heel publication, the policy states that no temporary or permanent structures may be erected on campus.

The law enforcement office that issued such a threat advised the group to consider other forms of visibility, including drawing a picture of a tent on a sign and holding it up in the air. Exception being from the hours of 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., during which only official university student organizations may apply to be permitted to use the space.

We were told that if we did not take down the tents ourselves, we would be arrested before they were broken down, removed and potentially confiscated by the authorities. Just as the Occupy movement (both locally and nationally), Carrboro Commune, the Yates Motor Building occupation and use issues surrounding Peace and Justice Plaza in Chapel Hill raised the discourse of private vs. public space, Tuesday’s events walk a blurry line. While I am grateful that I was not arrested and do not have to deal with court fees, etc., I walked away from the Pit for my 2 p.m. class with my tail between my legs. I took my tent down because I was told to do it because it broke some living document of rules – one that, for the record, bans “shanties.” I have a feeling that part was written during Apartheid.

The original intention of our event was to raise awareness about the Alternative Commencement Ceremony, which is scheduled for May 13 at 9:30 a.m. in the Forest Theatre. This event will be for university students and their families, as well as faculty, staff, and community members who do not support honoring New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg at commencement. More information can be found at alternativeunc.com

Alanna Davis and Kari Dahlgren
UNC Alternative Commencement Task Force

1 thought on “LETTER: UNC tent rule impacts demonstration”

  1. James Dodson says:
    April 20, 2012 at 12:41 pm

    Just because you think your cause is “the most important thing since sliced bread” does not mean you can just naively circumvent rules and regulations already put in place and followed by official university organizations. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. Even the Pit Preacher abides by these rules! Maybe next time you should do a little planning before you get out there. This indicates a lack of professionalism and focus that has been evident with the entire Occupy movement and definitely affects people’s ability to take you seriously Alanna. This attempt to “Occupy” the pit was disrespectful to all other organizations that go through the proper procedures to get their word (which they think is equally important) out to students.

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