'Respectful' protests planned for commencement

Amid rumors of massive protests and disruptive behavior at commencement in response to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's selection as speaker, students and faculty have begun to lay out exact plans for what they term "respectful" protests.

Students and faculty have both planned protests during the ceremony, while a protest by outside groups will also be going on near campus.

The most noticeable protest on the day of commencement will likely be the group of faculty and students who plan on standing - some with their backs turned away from the podium - as Rice receives her honorary Doctor of Laws degree. While some of the faculty plan to also stand during Rice's speech, the students have agreed to not stand during that portion of the ceremony out of respect for their fellow graduates.

Wary of being viewed as distracting from the ceremony, both faculty and students have stressed their desire not to disrupt the day for others. The faculty who plan on standing up have made sure they will not be blocking other's view, while those students doing the same plan on organizing to sit together in one place.

"This is a very peaceful, minimalist expression for a student of their views. Even just wearing an armband is easy to do," said sociology professor Charles Derber. "The idea that this is sensationalist is not true, and this [protest] just represents the culture of respectful dialogue at BC."

Students will also be handing out leaflets, stickers, and armbands leading up to and on Commencement day with messages like "Not in my name" and "No honorary degree" that they hope students, parents, and other visitors will hold up or wear during the ceremony. The Boston College Police Department and the protestors have agreed on a 100-foot zone around Conte Forum and Alumni Stadium outside of which leaflets and armbands must distributed to ease the flow of traffic that will already be congested due to increased security.

There is also expected to be a sizable protest by multiple outside groups on both the grass island between St. Ignatius Church and Thomas More Hall on lower campus and on the Beacon Street sidewalk directly adjacent to Shea Field - the two areas agreed on by Boston Police, according to BCPD chief Robert Morse. Demonstrators are planning to gather in Cleveland Circle and march along the Reservoir to the different locations where several people will then speak and the protestors will remain during the ceremony.

Derber said the American Civil Liberties Union had gotten involved in ensuring the protestors would have space. At least 15 groups are planning on sending people and Derber estimated that "several hundred people" could potentially show up for the demonstration.

All of the protestors stressed that though they feel strongly about expressing themselves, this is not something they want to disrupt from the ceremony and graduation day for the class of 2006.