Stanford University Policy on Campus Disruptions

Implementation Protocol in Relation to Students 

Stanford is committed to academic freedom and freedom of speech as essential components of a democratic society and the mission of the University. Stanford’s Statement on Academic Freedom, adopted by the Faculty Senate in 1974, provides: 

“Stanford University’s central functions of teaching, learning, research, and scholarship depend upon an atmosphere in which freedom of inquiry, thought, expression, publication, and peaceable assembly are given the fullest protection. Expression of the widest range of viewpoints should be encouraged, free from institutional orthodoxy and from internal or external coercion.” 

Protests are an essential form of speech. Content and viewpoint neutral time, place, and manner rules help ensure that protestors are able to convey their views without disrupting other important campus functions or effectively silencing other speakers. In accordance with these principles as well as governing law, Stanford University has imposed time, place, and manner restrictions on disruptive conduct in its Policy on Campus Disruptions. 

A student who has violated a University policy, including the Policy on Campus Disruptions, may be referred to the University’s Office of Community Standards (OCS) for disciplinary process under the Fundamental Standard. Penalties range from censure to expulsion.* 

This document provides protocol and guidance for classes and for events involving speakers or presenters at Stanford (“speaker events”). This protocol and guidance does not alter or modify the Stanford Policy on Campus Disruptions. 

Students are presumed to have read the Stanford Policy on Campus Disruptions and the University’s related rules including the Fundamental Standard. Failure to do so is not an excuse for disrupting an event or a defense against disciplinary sanction. These university policies and rules apply whether or not students have been reminded of them in the context of a particular event. 

_{* The University’s Office of Community Standards provides “Examples of Unprotected Speech” on the OCS website.} 

I. Distinction Between Events and Classes 

The purpose and nature of classes as distinguished from optional or extracurricular campus events, which are addressed in the remainder of this document, requires a more stringent interpretation of disruptions to avoid interference with the educational environment and ensure that instructors retain pedagogical control over their classrooms. If students enrolled or invited to the class are engaging in expressions that do not disrupt the class or impede the access or participation of others, such as wearing clothing with slogans, displaying small signs or stickers on their laptops without interfering with any class member’s ability to view or hear, or participating in interactive components of class in ways that are consistent with and do not disrupt the class format, such as by asking questions during a designated question and answer time, this will not disrupt the operation of the class in most situations. Ultimately, however, it is the purview of the individual instructor to determine whether activities are interfering with classroom learning, and students must leave or cease any such conduct upon an instructor’s direction. 

For example, an instructor has latitude to determine that questions are not germane to the curriculum they intend to cover in the class session and that further pursuing the off-topic questions is disruptive to the course material that needs to be covered, or, similarly, that the educational benefit of further discussion on one line of questioning is diminishing, and that the class needs to move on to other topics. Any departure from the day’s syllabus to address public or “breaking news” events is likewise at the discretion of the instructor, who determines how much time can be allocated to such discussion. Similarly, waving signs or attempting to display media, standing up in a classroom where students are otherwise sitting, or other behavior that is distracting from the class presentation may be deemed by the instructor to be an interference. Instructors also can ask students and other persons not enrolled in the class to leave the classroom. Students continuing any such conduct aTer being warned by the instructor to stop will be considered to be violating the disruption policy, as will students who refuse to leave the classroom when instructed to do so. Further guidance on handling classroom disruptions is available on the Teaching Commons website.

III. Protocol for Student-Sponsored or Organized Speaker Events

A. Notice and preparation before the event 

1. At least two weeks’ notice of any student-sponsored or organized speaker event must generally be provided to the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) or the equivalent office in a school. This helps ensure that adequate time is available to address any issues that come up. Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the relevant oversight office for time-sensitive events, such as events that discuss rapidly moving developments in politics or society; for such “breaking news” events, such exceptions should be granted liberally with a view towards facilitating speech. However, mere failure to plan is not a good reason for seeking an exception. (Note that the University has additional rules for “Major Events” and those requiring security.)
2. Student organizers or hosts of an event must follow the rules for scheduling and booking space found on the OSE website.
3. Stanford does not grant or withhold permission to hold events based on the content of the event or views of the presenter(s).
4. When a meeting is appropriately designated as private (invitation-only), protest by non-invitees is limited to activity outside the meeting that does not impede access to the meeting or substantially interfere with the meeting or with other usual or otherwise authorized University activities.
5. OSE or the relevant oversight office in a school may provide advice or instructions to the organizers or hosts about event design, management, and support. If OSE or the organizers/hosts of the event expect that it may attract significant opposition or protest, OSE will provide guidance to mitigate the risk of disruption. (For example, an event might be moved to a different room or a time change might be suggested to avoid disruption of nearby classes.) The organizers and hosts are expected to work collaboratively with OSE and other relevant campus departments in implementing event plans.
6. OSE staff may, at their discretion, reach out also to students or leaders of student organizations whose members may oppose or wish to voice disagreement with the event. Either in response to student requests or on its own initiative, the office may discuss alternatives to event disruption for students with different views to address their concerns and allow them to give voice to such concerns or counterviews without disrupting the event in question. While all students are presumed to have read Stanford University policies, and particularly the Policy on Campus Disruption, the office may provide specific notice about University policy and protocols regarding disruption. Impermissible event disruption shall not be excused by virtue of the fact that University staff may not have counseled individual students about the policy and protocol. It is advisable for students planning protest activities in response to a 5 speaker to reach out to OSE or the relevant school office for guidance on disruption policies.
7. OSE or the relevant school office may determine that the event calls for the presence of one or more agents (hereaTer “Agent”) appointed by the University’s Office of Special Events and Protocol or the Office of General Counsel. This Agent has the authority and discretion to provide the announcement and take the steps outlined in Part II B and C below. The Agent has final authority over all decisions at the event including, but not limited to, whether to remove a disrupting person from the room, and whether to cancel, terminate, close, or move the event because of disruption or security reasons. The OSE/ school office may also determine that, in addition to the Agent, security or public safety personnel should be present for the safety of all and in ways that are consistent with University policy. 

B. Notice at the outset of an event 

1. If the Agent observes some indication or risk of significant disruption at the outset of the event, the Agent may, at their discretion, make an oral announcement reminding attendees of the University Policy on Campus Disruption, and any other policies or rules that the Agent deems relevant in the circumstances. The announcement should emphasize the importance of free speech, and the availability of alternative ways of communicating that do not violate the disruption policy.
2. Even in the absence of such an announcement, community members are expected to be aware of prohibited conduct and are accountable under Stanford policies. 

C. Protocol in case of impermissible disruption 

During an event, if a disruption occurs (see examples in Part I above), the Agent may, at their discretion, provide express warnings. The Agent will have decision making authority to determine whether the University’s policy has been or is being violated. Even in the absence of such a warning, community members are expected to be aware of prohibited conduct and may be subject to disciplinary sanction under University rules for violations of Stanford’s policies. 

In other words, the steps below are optional steps for the agent to take to facilitate the continuation of the event and not mandatory prerequisites for disciplinary referral, which can be based on any prohibited conduct whether or not it follows a warning. 

1. After initial disruption: The Agent may notify the person(s) who is/are disrupting that they are engaging in disruptive behavior and request that they discontinue such behavior. The Agent may provide a warning that if the disruption continues, the person(s) engaging in disruption will be asked to leave the event. Such notice and/or 6 warning may be given publicly and audibly to all participants at the event or, if the Agent deems it appropriate, privately to the disrupting person(s). The warning may, at the discretion of the Agent, state that the disrupting individual may be referred to Stanford’s Office of Community Standards for disciplinary proceedings under the University’s Fundamental Standard. If the Agent deems necessary and appropriate, the event may be paused briefly (e.g., for five minutes) for the Agent to speak with the protestors to try to deescalate the situation.
2. If disruption continues (by same or different persons): If the person(s) who have received notice and/or warning continue to engage in disruptive behavior, they will be directed to leave the event and will not be allowed to re-enter the event. If the notice and/or warning was made publicly and audibly to all participants at the event, then the Agent may also direct that persons other than the initially disrupting person(s) be directed to leave if they have or are engaging in similar disruptive behavior. The Agent may, at their discretion, notify the disrupting parties that they may be referred to the OCS for disciplinary proceedings under the University’s Fundamental Standard.
3. Final warning if disruptors do not cease disruption or do not leave: If persons who have been asked to cease disrupting do not do so or do not leave the event, the Agent will request administrative staff, security, or public safety officials to escort them from the event, and they may not be allowed to re-enter the event. The Agent may again choose to notice disrupting parties about referral to the OCS.
4. Relocation of event: If the persons do not leave and continue to engage in disruptive behavior, the Agent, in consultation with the event organizers or hosts present at the event, may authorize that the event be canceled, ended, closed or moved to a different location, whether physically or virtually. If the event is moved, the Agent and event organizers may exclude admission to those identifiable persons who have already caused disruptions. The Agent may again choose to notice disrupting parties about referral to the OCS. 

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