Several weeks ago, three Christian groups staged demonstrations at variouslocations on Grounds. The groups have sparked debate within the community regarding First Amendment rights and the University's policy on demonstrations.
In the first incident, Michael Woroniecki, with his wife and six children, carried banners on South Lawn and shouted remarks such as "You're going to hell!" and "This flood, do you think that's a coincidence?"
The group had been demonstrating for several hours before Dean of Students Penny Rue contacted University Police to moderate and relocate the protest after receiving complaints from passersby.
Woroniecki is a fundamentalist preacher who opposes organized religion and is best known for his influence over Andrea Yates, the woman who drowned her five children in 2001. According to The Daily Universe, a publication of Brigham Young University, Woroniecki was arrested in 1994 for similarly harassing Brigham Young students in an anti-Mormon protest.
Three days after the Woroniecki demonstration, Life and Liberty ministries approached students with anti-abortion pamphlets and signs depicting graphic images of aborted fetuses as part of their 2005 Face the Truth Virginia Campus Tour, which the organization's Web site noted as "another great stop."
These demonstrations were followed by the relatively less obtrusive presence of representatives from Gideons International, who distributed Bibles a week later without interfering with University operations.
According to University Library Archives, the first significant public protests at the University emerged in 1970 after President Nixon's decision to invade Cambodia and the Kent State killings.
In response to these events, The Sally Hemings' Newsletter was distributed from Room 50 East Lawn, which became the headquarters for the University Strike Committee. For the next several days, marches and protests led by the Southern Student Organizing Committee essentially closed the University until 200 policemen armed in riot gear ended the demonstration by arresting 68 students on the Lawn.
Two days later, former University President Edgar Shannon gave a speech on the steps of the
Rotunda, closing his appeal with his own anti-war message for which he has now become famous. This event, later named the May Days protest, established the Lawn as an open forum for free speech.
In light of this tradition, since May Days, the Office of the Dean of Students has established a set of guidelines for use of the Lawn and other areas for demonstration by both University and independent groups. According to the Office's Web site, these regulations "ensure that extracurricular use of the physical facilities of the University is responsible and consistent with the mission of the University and applicable laws."
Permission is not required to protest in public spaces on Grounds; however, to guarantee that a space is available, the Office encourages demonstrators to reserve the site in the Newcomb Hall Reservations Office. Independent groups may reserve University space for specific purposes, "as long as the group is sponsored by a University group and executes a use of space agreement," which "contains both an indemnification provision ... and restrictions for use of space consistent with University policy and applicable laws," according to the Web site. This agreement is only required if demonstrators have reserved the site in advance.
Due to its historical value and architecture, the only area on the Lawn that can be reserved is the "Homer Terrace," unless the University uses the upper terraces under special circumstances, such as graduation ceremonies.
Among other limitations, including discrimination, solicitation and unlawful conduct, no University property may be used for a purpose that "disrupts academic activities, scheduled events, University functions or other normal pursuits that take place in the area."
These regulations are "enforced in a content neutral manner," Newcomb Hall Reservations Manager Stephanie Nixon said. According to Nixon, the three factors that regulate demonstrations are time of day, location, and manner of protest.
In the case of a conflict with either of the first factors, "we try to find an alternative time or place."
If the manner in which the information is presented becomes disruptive or threatening, Nixon said, "We'll ask people to tone it down." Nixon specifically noted disturbing classes and blocking sidewalks as potential problems with public protests.
The University has strict guidelines of conduct which particularly applied to the demonstrations by the Woroniecki family and the Life and Liberty ministries, stating, "Persons who wish to communicate to those in attendance (for example by the distribution of leaflets or carrying of signs) will be permitted to do so in a manner ... that does not interfere with or harass those who are entitled to attend."
The policy continues, "Persons designated by the President are authorized to ask persons who are using or occupying University space in a manner inconsistent with these policies or guidelines to leave."
While the Woroniecki family did not need a permit to protest, as a police officer told Elizabeth Woroniecki, University officials followed regulations in their actions because the family blocked sidewalks from student use and delayed students on their way to class. Police officers allowed the family to continue its demonstration, asking the Woronieckis to calm their protests and clear the sidewalks.
Second-year College student Matt Kleberg ended up speaking at length with Woroniecki on his way to class, telling him, "I don't feel like Jesus tries to win people over using threats of hell and condemnation."
Kleberg said Woroniecki "went off on disjointed scriptural references taken out of context," and told him, "You are not a Christian."
As Kleberg walked away, late for class, Woroniecki replied, "Well, I'm sorry you're going to hell."
Despite his belief that Woroniecki's message "was basically just picking a fight," Kleberg admitted, "If someone wants to speak their mind religiously, they should be able to, so yeah, he has a right to be there."
Police were not involved in the Life and Liberty protest, although some students reported being hassled by the group, including second-year College student Kimberly Holihan.
"I became more and more disturbed by the pictures but more about the fact that such young kids were trying to inform me of abortion," Holihan said.
Later, she was approached by a woman who tried to give her a pamphlet, but Holihan refused, telling the woman, "I don't think it's right for you to have these kids out here doing this."
Holihan said she was deeply upset when the woman replied, "Well we don't think it's right to murder human beings."
In addition to disturbing students and classes, the anti-abortion protesters ignored noise ordinances by using megaphones, which Nixon said are not permitted during class hours.
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