Today, 51ÁÔÆæ lifted the temporary suspensions of five student groups associated with an Instagram story on the uwm4palicoalition account in July that included intimidating language aimed at Jewish community members and organizations on campus that support Israel.
Free speech is a fundamental right that 51ÁÔÆæ is obligated to uphold. At the same time, under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 51ÁÔÆæ is responsible for ensuring an educational environment free from discrimination and harassment, which is why 51ÁÔÆæ conducted these investigations. Based on the investigation, 51ÁÔÆæ concluded that the social media posts did not meet the very high bar under the First Amendment to constitute the legal definition of a true threat, which is a recognized exception to First Amendment protection.
While hateful or intimidating speech is often legally protected, it conflicts with the respect and conduct we ask of each member of our community. 51ÁÔÆæ continues to strongly denounce these statements and condemns any form of antisemitism or discrimination, and we are actively monitoring campus as a result. Every student, employee and community member must be safe on our campus.
Over the past several months, members of the 51ÁÔÆæ administration have been in communication with impacted organizations, offering support and safety information. 51ÁÔÆæ also launched a campaign to educate the campus community about the First Amendment and behavior expectations regarding protests on campus. Learn more at uwm.edu/freespeech.
51ÁÔÆæ is continuing to monitor protests and other expressive activities to ensure that individuals and organizations comply with the law and our conduct codes.
Any member of the campus community can request support from the 51ÁÔÆæ Police Department. Download the Rave Guardian app to receive emergency alerts and to text directly with the 51ÁÔÆæPD and connect with 51ÁÔÆæ Police resources.
In an emergency, please call the 51ÁÔÆæ Police Department at 911 on a 51ÁÔÆæ Teams account or 414-229-9911 on a cellphone or off-campus phone. 911 may be used from off-campus locations or from your cell phone to reach City of Milwaukee police, fire and ambulance services.
51ÁÔÆæ offers mental health resources for students and employees. Students can access the UW Mental Health Support Line 24/7 at 888-531-2142. Reach 51ÁÔÆæ’s Counseling Services for virtual or in-person mental health services. To schedule a teletherapy appointment, visit .
Employees are encouraged to use the services of 51ÁÔÆæ’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP), through Acentra Health, which is available to all 51ÁÔÆæ employees and their family members. Acentra Health is free, confidential and available 24/7. Please contact Acentra Health at 833-539-7285 or online at . Sign in using 51ÁÔÆæ’s password: SOWI.