Limits on university protests at Western University shelved amid outcry

Western University is pulling back on policy changes that would see protest organizers getapprovalahead of demonstrations, andother rules that would limit when and how a protest couldbe carried out campus.

The school said itreceived feedback from its community after a proceduralchange was quietly introduced ahead of the new school year, on Aug. 29.

"Our community is asking for further consultation on these matters, and we are listening," read a statement on an internalWestern website. "Effective today, Western will pause on theProhibition of Camping policy as well as the procedure related to non-academic events."

The university had said it was responding to an increased number ofprotests on campus, and the new rules would improve safety.Western also claimed it was "formalizing" a procedure when it saidprotest organizers had to get authorization from the administration at least five business days before a demonstration.

It also saidprotests would only be allowed from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, and individuals would not be allowed toadvertise protests until they'd beenapproved.

Many student and faculty groups didn't see the new rules as a way to improve safety and said they had never before been required to seek permission. Some, including legal experts, felt their rights to express themselves freely were being violated under the new rules.

Western said Monday that it will pause the changes in order to "fold them into a broader policy review" later this fall.

Western University has not made anyone available for interviews, despite repeated requests from CBC News.