Yes, a public university space that is open to the public, is "public property". Restricted areas can exist on public campuses - like access controlled labs - but the space we are talking about is space specifically open to the public - and specifically students.
Students attending a public university are not trespassing, and they are permitted to express political speech... It happens quite frequently, at every campus I have been to. The thing is, you rarely hear about it - because nearly every time police are able to act reasonably, without the application of unnecessary force.
As far as the duration of their protest, I do not remember any curfew or time limitation specified in the first amendment. The idea that the duration of their protest somehow makes it illegal makes little sense to me...
I also find it hard to buy the line that the campus was shut down, or that the protest has impedes academic study. I have seen quite a few student protests at universities, and I have yet to come across one that I could not walk around.
So - ......They were having a student study group .................on the lawn.........in their tents............and their sleeping bags...............with no books............this activity is legal at all public schools .....Right?
The police had absolutely no business even being there. Only the students are allowed to camp and crap and litter and do drugs and trespass and scream at police and throwing stuff and etc...
I had no idea you can do so much on campus now days......and I guess.. its all legal. We should just move all the homeless there to live too and this would fix a lot of the city problems.
Lots of purple, I know.