By Jake Fogal and Blake Haas 

NORMAL – Free speech and the First Amendment can be a tricky subject. 

That’s according to the Chief of Police at Illinois State University, as Pro-Palestinian protest’s across the country are taking place on college campuses. 

While protests take place on ISU’s campus, rarely do campus police get involved. However, that can’t be said for schools like the University of Southern California (USC), Columbia Vanderbilt, and many more. 

Hundreds of students taking part in Pro-Palestinian protests around the country have been arrested, suspended, and even banned from schools. 

“It is complicated. You know, if free speech and the First Amendment wasn’t so complicated, everyone would know what to do,” ISU Chief of Police Aaron Woodruff said on WJBC’s Afternoon Show. “Even the Supreme Court has (a) a difficult time interpreting the First Amendment. 

Hopefully, everybody remains calm and reasonable and we get through this tumultuous period, and it’s unfortunate on all side of everything that is happening.” 

For USC, campus administrators canceled graduation ceremonies as protests continued across campus. 

“Our role as police, ultimately, is to try and keep the peace. Ultimately, that’s what we’re trying to do. Unfortunately some of these schools, I think you do see individuals who are there to antagonize on purpose and to make their own point and statement to try and get that across. 

Hopefully, we remain calm and get through this period.” 

At the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, protestors and U of I administrators are at a standstill in negotiations, but classes have continued as normal. 

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].