Examples of Likely Permitted and Prohibited Expressive Activities
Every situation is particular, and concerns and violations will be addressed based on the known facts. This list is provided as a guide to community members, and its application to specific venues, timing, and events may vary. Such variations will be in accordance with the restrictions outlined above.
Likely Permitted Expressive Activities (include but are not limited to):
- Attending events in support of or in opposition to an issue or cause.
- Walking out of an event that expresses views that you oppose.
- If signs are allowed at an event, holding a sign in front of yourself that does not block anyone’s view.
- Participating in an organized march that does not produce noise in excess of 80 decibels in the nearest building or is otherwise disruptive to university events.
- Engaging in speech that does not violate university policies involving threats, discriminatory harassment, disruption of university events or other published policies.
- Writing letters to leaders expressing viewpoints or facilitating petition signing.
- Participating in the event registration and pre-planning process to organize a rally, speech, march, or vigil.
- Boycotting an establishment, for example, to economically impact a business if you do not agree with their practices.
- Establishing or participating in mutual aid action in response to inequities and systemic failures.
Likely Prohibited Expressive Activities (include but are not limited to):
- Expressive activities taking place at a location that has been reserved by another community member or external client pursuant to the university’s reservations policies and procedures.
- Threats to the health and safety of any members of the university and surrounding community, as defined in the Threats and Acts of Violence Policy.
- Engaging in harassing conduct, including uttering statements directed to others on the basis of their race or national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics) or other protected characteristics.
- Preventing freedom of movement by blocking entrances, passive egress, or impeding pedestrian/vehicular traffic.
- Occupations of locations by one or more individuals with temporary living accommodations, no matter how temporary, typically involving structures such as tents ( e.g., encampments*.) This is in violation of existing university policies, including the Demonstrations Policy, Disruption of University Functions Policy, and Sleeping in Public Areas of University Owned, Controlled or Leased Property Policy.
- Occupying university premises after being directed by university officials to disperse.
- Restricting the vision of others in a way that substantially interferes with an event (examples: a poster, a prop, a person’s body that limits viewing access to the event, turning off the lights, directing a laser pointer at someone).
- Moving, altering, or otherwise disturbing physical barricades or activities that result in or are likely to result in the destruction, defacing, or damage to, or tampering with university property or property belonging to members of the university community and visitors.
- Any expressive activity using open flames unless the use of such flames receives prior approval pursuant to the university’s Events and Venues Guidelines and the Fire Safety and Temporary Structures guidance.
- Refusing a university official’s request to remove a costume, mask, or other items in order to identify the demonstrator.
- Producing noise that exceeds 80 decibels in the nearest building.
*Temporary structures for purposes other than an encampment may be approved upon request on a content-neutral basis.