Journalists must secure university approval in order to gain access to campus according to a policy shared Wednesday by Vanderbilt University. The school cites concern for campus safety and privacy, and did not share when this policy was adopted. Reporters from the Scene, the Nashville Banner, The Tennessean and WPLN confirm that they are not familiar with the policy. As of this publication, it does not appear online.
“As a matter of policy, we ask that members of the media reach out to Communications (media@vanderbilt.edu) in advance of coming to campus so we understand what you are coming to cover, as well as when you plan to arrive and when you plan to leave,” the policy reads, in part. “In some cases, we may ask media to remain on the perimeter of campus to take photos/video and conduct interviews (as we have today), particularly during events where safety may be an issue.”
Students are protesting the university’s suppression of pro-Palestine activism
The rules come a day after the sudden arrest of a Nashville Scene reporter covering a student sit-in at the office of Chancellor Daniel Diermeier. For more than a week, students have agitated against the university’s decision to block a student government vote on a BDS referendum. The sit-in ended Wednesday morning and resulted in five arrests and 16 suspensions.
Damon Maida, Vanderbilt's associate director of communications, shared the policy in response to the Scene’s questions about whether the aforementioned reporter was allowed on campus after being arrested yesterday for criminal trespassing.
Vanderbilt did not answer the Scene’s request for additional comment.
Scene staff writer Eli Motycka was reporting on student protests regarding campus speech and Israel's military invasion of Gaza
