Emerson College faculty member John Gianvito chalked the walls of the 2 Boylston Place Alley on April 1 as part of an individual demonstration.
Amidst the usual bustle of the alley as students made their way between buildings, Gianvito wrote quotes from famous activists along sections of brick walls. The action was intended to deliberately violate the school’s interim expression policy, according to Gianvito.
“The actions should speak for themselves,” said Gianvito, a visual media arts professor at the college. “I very consciously am violating the school’s protest policy.”
Last August, Emerson released interim expression policies in response to the “Popular University Encampment” last spring in the 2B alleyway where 118 protesters were arrested. The policies prohibit demonstrations within the alley; protests on campus are now required to receive permission to use certain pre-allowed spaces, and they are also not allowed to block access to any building or area or make loud noises. Demonstrators are also required to disperse upon request and show IDs or remove any masks upon request from college personnel. Violation of the guidelines by employees will be subject to discipline, including termination, the college’s website says.
Members of the faculty have continuously spoken out against administrative actions since the arrests, most notable of which being a vote to censure President Jay Bernhardt at the end of the spring 2024 semester. In recent months, allegations have been made against the school for silencing free speech of both students and faculty members leading to the creation of an alternative, anonymous news outlet, Discipline News.
These actions also come amid increased pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration regarding pro-palestinian protests on campus. Emerson is also now one of 60 colleges that are under investigation for alleged Title IV violations related to “antisemitic harassment and discrimination.”
There have also been several detainments of visa-holding international students who have been linked to pro-Palestine movements across the country. Most recently, Tufts graduate student Rumeysa Öztürk was arrested by Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents on March 26, an action that has sparked free speech concerns across college campuses nationwide.
“This is a time of dire crisis that’s going to demand a whole host of actions and mobilization to push back against the Trump administration and his cronies,” said Gianvito.
Gianvito, a tenured professor, believes Emerson should not have control over speech on campus. He also pointed out the college’s “hypocrisy” regarding the education students receive on social movements, as those histories are often a cornerstone of class discussions.
“I’d like them to see the hypocrisy in some of their actions when we extol [in] so many [of] our classes the historical value of civil disobedience and how many of the rights we currently enjoy only happen when you have that kind of struggle,” he said.
When asked about potential disciplinary actions taken from the college, Gianvito told The Beacon he expects ramifications, but does not know what they would be able to do—“I don’t really care.”
“If I’m not getting their attention, I feel like I am failing. I am very comfortable in my decision to violate [the policies]. I wish I had done it earlier,” he added.
The Emerson College Police Department was not present while the demonstration was taking place. ECPD was notified of the vandalism by facilities after it had taken place, a Beacon reporter observed.
In the phone call from facilities to ECPD, the reporter heard the individual describe how the police would “have to run the video to see who did it.” ECPD came to the alley to take pictures of what they described as the “graffiti.” The writing was washed away by facilities after ECPD documented it.
In request for comment on the demonstration, the college stated that they “have nothing to share at this time.” It is currently unclear whether Gianvito’s actions will result in discipline from the college.
Gianvito told The Beacon he hoped several of the quotes written, along with his actions in breaking the policies, would hopefully encourage action, such as a quote by political activist Emma Goldman, “To the daring belongs the future.”
“[I hope it] gives folks who are hesitant to step up that extra bit of courage to say ‘Okay, if that person is willing to put themselves on the line maybe I can too,’” said Gianvito. “We don’t win if we cave to those fears, and giving up is not an option.”
