UC Berkeley’s Principles of Community guide our personal and collective behavior and how we interact with one another. One of those principles is Free Speech/Freedom of Expression.
There are hundreds of ways and places on campus to express one’s Free-Speech rights. The campus’ Time, Place and Manner policies specify activities that are not permitted on the Berkeley campus without specific, documented permission obtained in advance from appropriate campus personnel*. Consistent with direction from University of California Office of the President’s Statement on Policies Impacting Expressive Activities,
these prohibited activities are summarized below in a digestible format.
- Placing or posting any objects or materials, including signs or posters, outside designated signboards and kiosks.
- Attaching anything to campus buildings, structures, benches, statues, fountains, or natural features.
- Erecting or placing standing signs or structures (e.g., sandwich boards or tents) on campus property.
- Sleeping at night outside or inside non-residential campus buildings.
- No person on University property or at official University functions may block entrances or exits or otherwise interfere with the the ability of emergency vehicles and disabled individuals to pass through an area of campus that they are entitled to access (including pathways, roads or plazas, and campus buildings), unless doing so in their official capacity sanctioned by the University.
- While wearing masks or face coverings is permissible for all persons who are complying with University policies and applicable laws**, no individual, while on University property, may conceal their identity or refuse to provide their identification for the purpose of evading or escaping discovery, recognition, or identification in the commission of a violation of applicable University policy or local, state, or federal laws, including acts of unlawful intimidation or unlawful harassment of any person or group.
- Not identifying yourself when asked to do so by campus personnel who show their credentials, and are implementing campus regulations.
- Disrupting or interfering with campus operations.
*If you are a recognized student group and would like to hold an expressive activity but are not sure from whom to obtain permission, please contact your advisor or Student Union Event Services for guidance.
**Learn more about university guidelines for masking/face covering.