Freedom of Expression Response & Support Team (FERST)
Freedom of Expression Response & Support Team (FERST) was developed to support the free speech rights of the college’s diverse constituencies and public, through proactive planning, response, and support and to ensure that events, demonstrations, and tabling on campus are both respectful, positive, non-threatening and non-violent.
The Goals of FERST are to:
- Provide student support when controversial and potential harmful topics are addressed on campus
- Provide proactive response & support
- Educate the campus community (students, staff, and faculty) about 1st amendment right of free speech and appropriate responses and strategies
- Foster a campus dialogue about freedom of expression and strategies to understand differences of opinion, while also being mindful of our values rooted in diversity and equity