Increased Surveillance and Restrictions on Protests

Many universities have implemented stricter protest policies in response to last year's unrest and ongoing social issues. A report indicated that nearly a hundred campuses changed their guidelines, often requiring students to register any gathering involving more than a specified number of participants, which varies by institution. This shift reflects a growing trend of universities incorporating police involvement to enforce policies against protests, leading to concerns about vague definitions around terms like 'public safety.' Students and faculty often felt blindsided by these sudden changes, as many of the new rules were announced without adequate consultation of the affected communities.