Policies and guidelines
Review clarified processes like event registration, space usage, and peaceful protests.
About Rochester Conversations
Rochester Conversations aims to provide clarity around—and commitment to—civil discourse on campus.
The Rochester Conversations mission
Rochester Conversations is a model at the University that promotes a culture of open and respectful dialogue, while not hindering academic or social life on campus.
It is a foundation for productive discourse, ensuring that everyone has freedom to both express their viewpoints and pursue their goals—whether it’s learning, discovering, healing, or creating.
It’s a way of thinking, doing, and engaging thoughtfully, empowering voices to be heard and operations to move forward in the spirit of Meliora.
Striking a balance
As part of Rochester Conversations, we’re committed to finding the proper balance between:
- Our long-held values of open dialogue, freedom of expression, and community respect
- Pursuit of our mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create—And Make the World Ever Better—without disruption
The goal is to make clear that we place a high value on freedom of expression, while also demonstrating that we place an equally high value on the right of everyone on campus to exercise their freedom to participate in their academic, social, and residential pursuits without disruption or intimidation.
Keeping community connections at heart
As part of this model, we’re recommitting ourselves to the pursuit of:
- Critical thinking
- Reasoned discourse
- Inclusiveness
- Civility
- Empathy
- Compassion
By centering on humanistic inquiry essential for a thriving democratic society, we’ll be able to maintain dialogue, address challenges, and make our world Ever Better in the process.