What can you do?
You have a range of options. You may circulate a petition or send a letter voicing your concerns to the administration. You may request to meet with university officials to discuss your concerns. You may engage in peaceful protest or picket with leaflets, singing, chanting or carrying signs in a space open to the public, such as the area outside the building or within lobbies during business hours.
What can you not do?
You may not engage in an occupation/sit-in of an office or other non-public space in a university building. You may not engage in behavior or activities that could disrupt regular University activities, regardless of whether they are indoors, or outdoors. If you do, you may be subject to the University’s Code of Community Standards and/or arrested for trespassing.
You may not block traffic into or out of the room, floor or building. You may not obstruct or disrupt university staff or officials while they are fulfilling their duties. If you do, you may be subject to the Code of Community Standards for obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration or other university activities.
You may not engage in tagging or mark university facilities with graffiti. If you do, you may be subject to student disciplinary action for destruction or damage to university property or arrest for vandalism/graffiti.
Civil Disobedience
Protests and civil disobedience have played a historic role on university campuses in bringing important and beneficial changes within society and in the development of our democracy. However, civil disobedience is not protected speech under the Constitution. The Constitution does not guarantee any right to engage in civil disobedience—which, by its very definition, involves the violation of laws or regulations—without incurring consequences. Civil disobedience may have a negative effect on the protected interests of others and may interfere with university business or threaten public safety or university assets in ways that require the university to act to protect those other interests.
What can the university bring disciplinary charges against me for?
The following is an illustrative list of violations of university policy:
- Violations of University or Other’s Property
- Acts of Violence
- Disorderly Conduct
- Disruption of the Academic Process
- Disruption of University Operations
- Failure to Comply
- Fire and/or Safety VIolations
- Intimidation or Threatening Behavior
- Involvement in a Code of Community Standards Violation