The Assembly That Was Not Sanctioned
Dr. Liu does not help us. Dr. Liu does not hurt us. Dr. Liu does, however, tell us, with the kind of precision that I have started to recognize as the precision of adults who are trying very hard to stay neutral, exactly what the rules permit.
"The council," she says, "has the authority to call informational sessions in school spaces, during non-instructional time, subject to space availability and standard supervision requirements. It does not require administrative approval. It does require a supervising adult in the room, per district liability policy, but that adult can be any school employee, including your faculty counsellor. Mr. Hawes, I believe."
"Yes, Dr. Liu."
"I see." She makes a small note on the paper in front of her. She does not look up when she makes the note. "You are not, to be clear, authorized to hold a *mandatory* assembly. That would conflict with the instructional calendar. You are, however, fully within your rights to hold a voluntary information session before school, at lunch, or after school, in any available common space."
"The library," Simone says.
"The library is a common space."
"The library is large enough to hold everyone who wants to come."
"The library," Dr. Liu says, "has held assemblies before."
"And if someone — " I say, "if someone were to try to prevent the assembly from happening — "
"Any attempt to prevent a