From the rallies in support of a detained postdoctoral researcher to protests against the annual Cardinal O’Connor Conference, Red Square, as the largest dedicated free speech zone, has long played a critical role in preserving our community’s free speech. 

However, upcoming construction plans in this area could threaten the space’s ability to support students’ expression. 

Georgetown University’s Office of Planning & Facilities Management sent an email to students Jan. 30 alerting them of future renovations to the Intercultural Center’s (ICC) roof and solar panels. 

The Editorial Board recognizes that the obstruction of Red Square may be necessary in light of the construction taking place in the area. However, if the primary designated free speech zone on the Hilltop campus will now be crowded by scaffolding and distracting noise, it is imperative to temporarily designate an additional free speech zone for the Georgetown community to ensure students’ expressive rights are not diminished in practice. 

Basia Panko (SFS ’29), a student who admires Red Square’s mission, said the area serves as a place where students can freely express their opinions regardless of university views. 

“It gives students a centrally located shared space to express themselves, whether through posters, tabling or writing on the ground,” Panko wrote to The Hoya. “From what I know, not many universities have a space quite like Georgetown’s Red Square.” 

The university outlined that it will place a temporary bulletin board in Red Square for continued flyering, but the Editorial Board believes that this is not the only solution. Our broader concern is how the ongoing construction may minimize student time spent in Red Square. While supporting flyering efforts is admirable and aligns with the university’s mission to protect students’ expression, it is not enough to preserve and embolden the Georgetown community’s free speech. 

Free speech is not protected merely by maintaining a space for posters — it demands a visible, accessible and physical space to gather. Universities are often the first places where social justice movements take place, and these movements are dependent on having a central, recognized place to convene. 

Thus, given that the project is planned to end in Spring 2027, we call upon both the university administration and students to come together and temporarily designate another large and central free speech zone. 

A Georgetown University spokesperson said Red Square is not the only free speech zone on the Hilltop campus.

“The University has several designated public squares. While the east area of Regents Lawn between Regents Hall and Tondorf Road will be closed during construction, Red Square will remain open as a public square during construction,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “The Leavey Center Lobby, a portion of the patio in front of the Healy Family Center and the pergola area between Dahlgren Memorial Library and the Basic Science Building will remain open as well.”

While we recognize that these other locations are forums for expressive activity to take place, they come with their own set of problems. 

For one, construction projects are simultaneously occurring in at least one other free speech zone, eliminating another viable option to Red Square. Moreover, these alternative spaces are limited physically. A mere portion of the Healey Family Student Center patio is not a large enough space to accommodate the dozens of students and faculty members who protest in Red Square.

Many students also remain unaware of these alternative spaces’ function as a designated free speech zone, given Red Square’s popularity. Furthermore, the majority of protests at Georgetown have taken place in this very square, giving the space its reputation as the place for free speech.

Mira Banker (CAS ’27) said she is concerned about Red Square’s closure and the lack of awareness about other free speech zones on the Hilltop.

“I was concerned because there’s really no other highly publicized free speech zones on campus,” Banker wrote to The Hoya. “Red Square is a really central part of campus where students can feel heard, and it sucks that they’re shutting it down when students don’t even know that there’s alternatives.”

It is hard to envision another space on campus that can suitably replace Red Square without paling in comparison. After all, Red Square is one of the most travelled through spots on campus and widely recognized as the Hilltop’s center of student expression. Nonetheless, it is critical that the university creates a space that attempts to fulfill this same function. 

While bringing attention to these existing designated public spaces is a step in the right direction, we believe that it is not enough. The community, including university administration and students, should collectively decide on a new temporary space.

The Editorial Board believes the university should survey the Georgetown community, asking students which campus location should be designated as the temporary free speech zone. Students should then take this opportunity to make their preferences known seriously.

While some may view this construction as a minor logistical issue or an inconvenience, the Editorial Board believes the construction is not this simple. Free expression is not an abstract principle that must be protected; it is dependent on action and requires a physical space where students can gather and speak. At a time when free speech is being restricted in our country, Georgetown must take proactive steps to ensure student expression is encouraged and protected.