Posted on Behalf of the UConn Division of Student Affairs
To the UConn Community:
As you may be aware, the UConn College Republicans and the UConn College Democrats have planned separate events on Wednesday night at the Storrs campus. We look forward to a thoughtful, respectful exchange of ideas at both events, as is the hallmark of a public university.
The university enacted its new Event Planning Review Procedures, applying them identically in both cases during meetings with the groups’ leaders to determine the most appropriate venue, admissions procedures, safety measures and other steps to ensure successful events.
The College Republicans’ invited speaker, conservative commenter and Daily Wire editor Ben Shapiro, will appear at Rome Commons in the South Campus complex from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The College Democrats’ invited speaker, Yale Law alum and Current Affairs editor Nathan Robinson, will appear in Konover Auditorium in the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
In both cases, admission is free but limited to members of the UConn community who acquire a ticket or wristband, and present a valid UConn ID.
Tickets are limited to one per person, and doors open at 6:15 p.m. at both events.
UConn students or employees interested in attending one of the events are advised of the following:
- Wristbands for entry into the Shapiro event can be acquired Wednesday from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Student Activities Office (Room 307) in the Student Union.
- Tickets to the Robinson event can be acquired Wednesday from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Student Union Theatre ticket booth.
- A valid UConn ID must be presented when picking up a ticket or wristband and again when entering the venue.
- As with events at Gampel Pavilion and other venues, ticket holders’ bags are subject to search upon entry, and cannot be larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches. Security personnel also will use hand-held metal detectors, also known as “wanding,” at the door at both events.
Freedom of speech and the vigorous exchange of ideas are core values at UConn. To preserve those fundamental freedoms, we must allow people to speak without interruption during events – including invited speakers and audience members during question-and-answer sessions.
Preventing people from exercising their rights goes against our identity as a University, and anyone who does so may be removed from the event.
The University is committed to working with both groups’ leaders to ensure safe and orderly events, and to ensure that the invited speakers and the audience members can exercise their free speech rights in a way that invigorates the discussion rather than hindering it.
For more information, contact: University Communications at (860) 486-0871