Report of the Chancellor’s Commission on Free
Speech
April 9, 2018
The Commission’s Website can be found at: https://chancellor.berkeley.edu/task-forces/commission-free-speech
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 2
Summary of Charge 4
Findings 5
Recommendations 8
Process 16
Appendix A: Chancellor’s Charge Letter to the Commission on Free Speech 18
Appendix B: Commission on Free Speech Membership Roster 21
Appendix C: Individual Statements from Commission Members 22
Appendix D: Recommended Background Reading 24
Cover photo: Demonstration against tuition increases, Sproul Plaza, April 2009, © Regents of the University of California
2
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Fornearlysixmonths(October2017toMarch2018),agroupofUCBerkeleyfaculty,staff,students
andadministratorsmettoconsidertheChancellor’schargetoinvestigatehowthecampuscould
betteraddressandmanagepoliticallycontroversialpublicevents.InvitedCommissionmembers
helddiverseviewpointsandperspectivesaboutrecent,controversialcampusevents.
TheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeley,initscommitmenttoadheretotheFirstAmendment,must
continuetoembraceitsobligationtoprotectthefundamentalrightoffreespeech,includinghate
speech.1Atthesametime,thecampusmustcommititselftoreducingthelikelihoodofdisruption
fromprovocativeevents,andmusttakestepstoavoidharmtothecommunitywhensuchevents
occur.TheCommissiononFreeSpeechthereforerecommendsthefollowing: WhatSeniorLeadershipandCampusAdministrationCanDo:
ContinuetooperationalizetheMajorEventspolicywhileremainingopentofurtherrevisionsbased
onexperienceandinputfromthecommunity.
EitheraddWestCrescentasaFreeSpeechZone,resultinginthreesuchzonesoncampus(along
withUpperandLowerSproulPlazas),ormakeLowerSproulPlazasubjecttotheMajorEvents
policywhileaddingWestCrescentasaFreeSpeechZone(maintainingtwosuchzones,butmoving
onefartherfromcentralcampus).2
Makethepolicealessintimidatingpresenceduringpotentiallydisruptiveevents.
EstablishstrongercriteriaforRegisteredStudentOrganization(RSO)sponsorshipofeventsthat
demandextrasecurity,includingarequirementthatRSOssubmitapublicstatementexplaining
howtheeventcomportswiththePrinciplesofCommunity,andarequirementthatRSOsprovide
volunteerstoassistatsponsoredeventsthatneedextrasecurity.
Increasecommunicationaboutthestepsfaculty,staff,andstudentscantaketoprotectthemselves
fromadisruptiveevent.
Organizecounterprogrammingtoempowertargetedcommunitymembersinthefaceofthemost
disturbingcampusspeechevents.
SeekrevenuesandsupportfromtheStateofCaliforniaforeventslikelytodisruptcampusand
createlarge,disproportionatefinancialburdens.
1 For purposes of this document, hate speech is defined as use of words which are deliberately abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening and/or demeaning. 2 The term “Free Speech Zone” is used in this report to denote areas with fewer time, place, and manner restrictions than the campus as a whole. Currently Upper and Lower Sproul Plazas are exempt from the Major Events Policy and can be reserved for potentially controversial major events with as little as 48 hours’ notice to campus. These are, of course, not the only "zones" on campus where "free speech" is permitted. Free speech is permitted in many campus locations, but with more significant time, place, and manner restrictions designed to avoid disruption of campus activities than the relatively limited restrictions in the two presently designated zones.
3
Explorewhethertosetacaponsecuritycostsfordisruptiveevents,bearinginmindthepotential
forlitigation.3
CollectmoredataonattitudestowardtheMajorEventPolicytomakesureitandotherrelevant
campuspoliciesreflectcommunityvalues.
Whenfundingallows,developacampus-wideeventdatabase.
Continuetosupportavigorouscampuscultureoffreespeech.
WhatFacultyCanDo:
Educatestudentsabouttheharmsofhatefulspeechandthereasonshatefulspeechisunrestricted.
Trainstudentshowtodebateanddisagreerespectfully;buildlogicandempiricalinquiryskills.
Encouragethecampustoplanalternativeeventsthatfeaturemultipleviewpointsonsensitive
subjects.
WhatStudentsCanDo:
Honornotjustthecampus’sPrinciplesofCommunitybutitsmissionofeducation,research,and
publicservicebyvoluntarilybalancingtheirrighttoholdeventswiththeirresponsibilitytothe
community.
3 The Commission did not reach consensus on this issue.
4
CHARGE
ChancellorChristformedtheCommissiononFreeSpeechinOctober2017“toanalyzeevents
featuringexternalspeakersinordertorecommendchangesinpolicyandproceduresthatmight
makesimilarevents[tothoseofSeptember2017]lessdisruptiveandexpensiveforthecampus,
andtoadvisehowwemightbestalignourresponsibilityforprotectingfreespeechwithourvalues
asacommunity.”TheCommissionwaschargedwith“developingasetofrecommendationsthat
preservethecampus’sfirmcommitmenttofreeexpressionwhilereducingthelikelihoodofsuch
expressiondisruptingthemissionofeducation,research,andpublicservice.”
TheChancellor’schargeletterisattachedtothisdocumentasAppendixA.
AlistofCommissionmembersandstaffisattachedtothisdocumentasAppendixB.
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FINDINGS
DedicationtofreedomofspeechhasbeenaprominentandvaluedpartoftheBerkeleyethossince
the1960s.TheUniversityofCalifornia,Berkeleymustcontinuetoembraceitsobligationtoprotect
thefundamentalrightoffreespeech,includingoffensiveandhatefulspeech.Thecampusisalso
committedtoensuringthesafetyofallstudents,staff,andfaculty;tofosteringaninclusive
community,especiallyforthosetraditionallyunder-represented;andtocreatinganenvironment
whereallvoicescanbeheard.
Thediscordarisingfromafewstudent-sponsoredeventsfromFebruarytoSeptember2017
exposedthetensionsbetweenthesecampusvalues.Ontheonehand,UCBerkeleyisdedicatedto
inclusionasstatedinitsPrinciplesofCommunity.4Thisinclusionrangesfromrace,ethnicity,
gender,immigrantstatus,disability,religion,sexualorientation,andpoliticalideologytoother
formsofdifference,all“inaspiritofcivilityandrespectinourpersonalinteractions.”Suchcivility
andrespect,however,arenotrequiredbytheFirstAmendment—andUCBerkeleychampions
assiduouslythefreedomofexpressiongrantedthroughthefirstarticleoftheBillofRights,without
whichtheUniversity’sverymissionwouldbejeopardized.Thecampusmustcommititselfto
reducingthelikelihoodofdisruptionfromprovocativeevents,andmusttakestepstoavoidharmto
thecommunitywhensucheventsoccur.
OnApril11,2016,right-wingpoliticalcommentatorBenShapirospokeatUCBerkeleywithout
controversy.Shapiro’snewsoutlet,thewebsiteDailyWire,notedapprovinglythat“Theaudienceat
Berkeleywascivilandpolite,perhapsmoresothananyotheruniversityShapirohasvisitedinthe
lastfewweeks.ThisislikelyduetothefactthatBerkeleyhostsspeakersonaregularbasis;the
politically-consciouscampusislikelyusedtopoliticallychargedspeech.”5
ShapironextspokeatUCBerkeleyonSeptember14,2017.Thistimehewasmetbyhundredsof
protesters.Thecampusspent$600,000toprotectbothhisfirstamendmentrighttospeakandthe
safetyofsupportersanddetractorsaroundthevenue.Ninepeoplewerearrested.6
Whythedifference?Whathappenedtothecampus’sresponsetopoliticallychargedspeech?
Althoughofcoursemanythingschangedduringthe17monthsbetweenShapiro’scampus
engagements,ourconclusionisthattheriseofultra-conservativerhetoric,includingwhite
supremacistviewsandprotestmarches,legitimizedbythe2016presidentialelectionandits
aftermath,encouragedfar-rightandalt-rightactiviststo“spikethefootball”atBerkeley.This
provokedanat-timesviolent(andcondemnable)responsefromtheextremeleft,tearingatthe
campus’ssocialfabric.7
4 https://diversity.berkeley.edu/principles-community 5 https://www.dailywire.com/news/4851/ben-shapiro-speaks-berkeley-joshua-yasmeh 6 https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/14/us/berkeley-ben-shapiro-speech/index.html 7 The football metaphor, which means “flagrant celebration in an opponent’s most valued territory,” arose during an exchange between a conservative student member of the Commission and a conservative student providing testimony on February 9, 2018. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co7DcDcbYbo at 32:15.
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Contrarytoacurrentlypopularnarrative,Berkeleyremainsatolerantcampus.AnOfficeof
Planning&AnalysissurveyofincomingFall2017studentsfoundthatthree-quartersofthemagree
that“theUniversityhastheresponsibilitytoprovideequalaccesstosafeandsecurevenuesfor
guestspeakersofallviewpoints—eveniftheideasarefoundoffensivebysomeorconflictwiththe
valuesheldbytheUCBerkeleycommunity.”Thisisconsistentwiththeresultsofanationwide
2016studybytheKnightFoundation,whichreported:“By78%to22%,morestudentssaycolleges
shouldexposestudentstoalltypesofspeechandviewpointsthansaycollegesshouldprohibit
biasedoroffensivespeechinthefurtheranceofapositivelearningenvironment.Theyaremore
likelythanU.S.adults(66%)tosaythis.”8
Allthe2017eventsthatledtodisruptionweresponsoredbyverysmallgroupsofstudentsworking
closelywithoutsideorganizations.Althoughthosespeakershadeveryrighttospeakandwere
entitledtoprotection,theydidnotneedtobeoncampustoexercisetherightoffreespeech.
Indeed,atleastsomeofthe2017eventsatBerkeleycannowbeseentobepartofacoordinated
campaigntoorganizeappearancesonAmericancampuseslikelytoinciteaviolentreaction,in
ordertoadvanceafacilenarrativethatuniversitiesarenottolerantofconservativespeech.
Weshould,ofcourse,bewaryofpaintingwithanoverlybroadbrush.InShapiro’scase,theclaim
thathisinvitationtocampuswasintendedtobroadenthepoliticaldiscoursehassomeplausibility,
ashiscommitmenttotheissuelongpredatesthepolarizing2016election.MiloYiannopoulosand
AnnCoulter,however,expressedlittleinterestinreasoneddiscussionofcontentiousissuesorin
defendingorrevisingtheirviewsthroughargument.ManyCommissionmembersareskepticalof
thesespeakers’commitmenttoanythingotherthanthepursuitofwealthandfamethroughthe
instigationofanger,fear,andvengefulnessintheirhard-rightconstituency.9Speechofthiskindis
hardtodefend,especiallyinlightoftheacutedistressitcaused(andwasintendedtocause)tostaff
andstudents,manyofwhomfeltthreatenedandtargetedbythespeakersandbytheoutside
groupsfinancingtheirappearances.
Theassertionofindividualrightsattheexpenseofsocialresponsibilitybyahandfulofstudents
hadenormousconsequencesforthecampus.Manystudentsandstafffeltthreatenednotjustbythe
messageofthespeakers,butbythelargepolicepresencerequiredtoassureeveryone’ssafety.
Thousandsmorestudentsandstaff—someperhapsnotasdisturbedbythepoliticaleventsorby
thelargepolicepresence—werenonethelessinconveniencedbythenearshutdownofSproulPlaza
andvicinity.And,ashasrecentlycometolight,thecampusspentnearly$4million—duringatime
ofseverefiscalduress—onsecuritycostsfortheeventsofSeptember2017alone.10
Itisimpossibletopredictwhetherpoliticallypolarizingeventswillcontinuetoroilthecampus;
muchwilldependonthenationalzeitgeist.ButasSchoolofLawDeanErwinChemerinskyandhis
co-author,UCIrvineChancellorHowardGillman,explainintheirlandmarkbookFreeSpeechonCampus,11morethaneightyyearsofFirstAmendmentlawwouldneedtobeoverturnedforthecampustolegallyprohibitpotentiallydisruptiveeventsthatofferlittlevalueascontributionsto
campusdiscourse.TheCommissionhasnoappetiteforinstigatingalegalbattleoverthisissue
(exceptpossiblyinconnectionwithcost,aswillbediscussedlater),inpartbecausemembersare
8 https://www.knightfoundation.org/media/uploads/publication_pdfs/FreeSpeech_campus.pdf, p. 3. 9 For example, Yiannopoulos’s commitment to furthering white supremacist views under the cloak of political conservatism is documented at https://www.buzzfeed.com/josephbernstein/heres-how-breitbart-and-milo-smuggled-white-nationalism?utm_term=.jxRjaRkwB#.kuAAJzZkE. 10http://www.dailycal.org/2018/02/04/uc-berkeley-split-4m-cost-free-speech-events-uc-office-president/ 11 Chemerinsky, Erwin and Gillman, Howard: Free Speech on Campus, Yale University Press, 2017.
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notconvincedthatadefensibleprocedurecouldbedevisedfordetermininginadvancewhich
plannedeventsarelikelytorepresentconstructivecontributionstocampusdiscourse.Further,
ASUCEventServicesandtheClassroomSchedulingOfficehosted11,460non-departmentalevents
intheirfacilitiesduringFall2017(7,216throughASUC,4,244throughClassroomScheduling),of
whichonlytwo—theShapiroappearanceandYiannopoulos’s“FreeSpeechWeek”—createda
disturbance.Thecampus’sco-curricularecosystemisclearlythriving,onthewhole,andthe
Commissioniswaryofimplementingchangesthatcouldimpedeitsgoodfunctioning.
Therefore,theCommissionrecommendsanumberofpragmaticstepsonthepartofcampus
leadershipandadministration,thefaculty,andstudentsthemselvestoreducethelikelihoodthat
majoreventshostedbynon-departmentalorganizationswillagaindisruptthecampusastheydid
inSeptember2017.Thoserecommendationsfollow.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Thereisnomagicformulaforeliminatingthecostanddisruptionofcontroversialeventson
campus.Rather,everycampusconstituencyneedstohelpreducethelikelihoodofdisruptionslike
thosethecampusexperiencedinSeptember2017.
WHATLEADERSHIPANDADMINISTRATIONCANDO:
MajorEventsPolicy
TheMajorEventsPolicyisaconsiderableachievement.Therewereproblemswithits
implementation,ascampuseventmanagersandRegisteredStudentOrganizations(RSOs)needed
toadjusttothenewrequirementsimposedoneventsthatinvolved200ormoreparticipants,or
involvedalcohol,orconsistedofadanceorconcert,orrequiredoutdooramplifiedsound.Priorto
theintroductionoftheMajorEventsPolicy,thecampusstrovetoaccommodatelast-minute
attemptstoholdbigeventsonshortnotice.However,startinginFall2017,RSOshadtoprovidethe
UniversityofCaliforniaPoliceDepartment(UCPD)withatleasteightweeks’noticeofamajor
event.ThisnewconditionjeopardizedanumberofannualRSOeventsthathadbeenheldforyears
withoutincident.Afive-personstriketeamfoundapathforwardforalmostallthoseevents
withoutviolatingthepolicy.
TheMajorEventsPolicywasimplementedonaninterimbasiswiththeexpectationthatitwouldbe
revisedafterextensivecampusinput.ThepolicywasopenedtocommentinOctober2017.Nearly
500respondents,over85%ofthemstudents,submittedcomments.Guidedbythatinput,aswellas
byinputfromtheAcademicSenate,theComplianceandEnterpriseRiskCommittee(CERC)Policy
Subcommittee,thefullCERC,andtheCommissiononFreeSpeech,therevisedpolicywasissuedon
January9,2018.Thenotificationperiodfordisclosingamajoreventtocampus(theUCPDandthe
intendedvenue)wasshortenedfromeightweekstosix;thenumberofparticipantscomprisinga
majoreventwasincreasedfrom200to300;alcoholdistributionwaspermittedatcertainlocations;
andthedefinitionofdanceswaschangedtoexcludedanceperformances.
TheCommissionbelievesitmaytaketwoyearsforthecampustofullyassimilatetheMajorEvents
Policy.Inthemeantime,theCommissionrecommendsthat,startinginOctober2018,thecampus
makefurtherrevisionsbasedonexperienceandinputfromthecommunity.(Itshouldbenoted
herethattheMajorEventsPolicyhasnoimpactondemonstrations,onlyonactivitiesforwhich
non-departmentalhostswishtoreservespaceoncampusforaplannedevent.)
FreeSpeechZones
UpperandLowerSproulPlazasarethecampus’straditionalfreespeechzones.Theyareexempt
fromtheMajorEventsPolicy,allowingforimpromptugatheringsinaccordancewiththetime,
place,andmannerguidelinesintherelevantBerkeleyCampusRegulationsImplementing
UniversityPolicies.12Yetsomeofthemostimportantstudentservicesunitsoncampusarebased
nearthePlazas,amongthem:SproulHall(Registrar,FinancialAid,DeanofStudents,Graduate
Division);theCesarChavezStudentCenter(DisabledStudentsProgram,GenderEquityResource
Center,StudentLearningCenter,multipleStudentDevelopmentCenters);andEshlemanHall(ASUC
StudentGovernment,GraduateAssembly,LEADCenter).WhenthePlazasareclosedorotherwise
disruptedbymajoreventsrequiringadditionalsecurity,theunitsinthesebuildingsmusteither
12 See Sections 331, 342, 344, 346, 351, and 368 at http://sa.berkeley.edu/campus-regulations
9
shutdown,temporarilymove(somethingextremelydifficulttodoinmostcircumstances),orrisk
servingtheirstudentclientsinproximitytounpredictablecrowds.
Eitheraddingormovingfreespeechzoneswouldrelievetheburdenonthisareaandreducethe
likelihoodthatvitalserviceswillbeinterrupted.TheCommissionconsideredtwo
recommendations.
Thefirstisthatthecampusopenathirdfreespeechzone,WestCrescent,andencouragenon-
departmentalhoststoholdtheireventsthere.WestCrescentisanopenspacecapableof
accommodatingthousandsofpeople.ItisalsoconvenienttodowntownBerkeleyandwouldbe
moreattractivetothedowntowncommunity,BerkeleyHighSchoolstudents,andpublictransit
riders.Theseadvantagesmayovercomereluctancetoholdlargegatheringsawayfromcentral
campus.
ThesecondisthatthecampusretainUpperSproulasafreespeechzone,butchangeitssecondfree
speechzonefromLowerSproulPlazatoWestCrescent.Inthisscenario,LowerSproulwouldbe
madesubjecttotheMajorEventsPolicy,reducingthelikelihoodthatbuildingsborderingLower
Sproulwouldbeaffectedbypotentiallydisruptivemajorevents.
Ineitherscenario,ifusingUpperand/orLowerSproulPlazarequiressecuritymeasuresthat
significantlydisruptUniversitybusiness,campusadministrationshouldusethelegalmeansatits
disposaltodirecttheeventtoWestCrescent.Forexample,iftheUCPDdeterminesthatsecurityfor
aneventwouldblockentrancestoorotherwiseinterferewiththeflowofpedestriantrafficintoand
outofSproulPlaza,theeventshouldbedirectedtoWestCrescent.Appropriateaccessfordisabled
personsshouldofcoursebeassured.CampusleadershipshouldalsoworkcloselywiththeCityof
BerkeleyandexplorethepossibilityofclosingOxfordStreetforeventsatWestCrescent.
Oflessernote,sinceneitherisafreespeechzone,theCommissionrecommendsthattheGreek
TheatrebeconsideredanalternativesiteforpotentiallydisruptiveeventsscheduledforWheeler
Hall.
PolicePresence
TheSeptember2017appearancesbyBenShapiroandMiloYiannopoulosoccurredlittlemorethan
amonthafteraneo-NazirallyneartheUniversityofVirginiacampusinCharlottesville,Virginia
resultedinthedeathofapeacefulcounter-demonstrator,HeatherHeyer.Ms.Heyerwaskilledbya
whitesupremacistwhodrovehiscarintoacrowd.Giventhewidespreadknowledgeofthistragedy,
andpreviousinstancesofviolenceassociatedwithYiannopoulos’sappearances,theUCPDwould
havebeenrecklesshaditnotbarricadedSproulPlazaandinvitedhundredsofpolicefromother
jurisdictionstoassistinprotectingspeakers,thespeakers’audience,anddemonstrators.
Fortunately,neithereventresultedinsignificantinjuryorpropertydamage.
FormanystaffandstudentsinornearSproulPlaza,however,thepolicepresencewasintimidating
andalienating.Thosefromcommunitieswithhistoricallypoorrelationshipswiththepolicewere
especiallyaffected.Oneblackstaffmemberobservedthat“policingdoesn’tinherentlymeansafety.
Isawcommunicationthatthiseventwasgoodbecauseitwassafe,butthemostunsafeIfeltwason
thiscampushavingtowalkhomeatnight,walkingdownBancroft,militarizedpoliceofficers
everywhere,walkingdownthemiddleofthestreettryingtogettomycar,andatthatmomentI’m
like,IwishIhadmystaffIDinmyhand,butI’mnotgoingtoputmyhandinmypocketbecauseI’m
10
fearingwhattheymightthinkI’mgoingintomypocketfor.”13Andmembersofhistorically
oppressedcommunitiesweren’ttheonlyonesupsetbytheheavypolicepresence.Astaffmember
bornandraisedinIrannotedthatthemilitarizationofthecampusevokedmemoriesofher
childhood,“wherewehadcurfewsatnight,andtherewerealwayspoliceforcespresenteverytime
youwenttoschool,youwentouttogogroceryshopping.”Thepresenceofsomanyofficersmade
herfeel“confinedanduncomfortableinmyskin.”14
TheCommissionrecognizesthattheUCPDhasanobligationtopreservethephysicalsafetyof
everyoneoncampus,whichmaysometimesrequireashowofforce.Nonetheless,theCommission
recommendsthatthecampustakestepstomakethepolicealessintimidatingpresenceat
controversialevents.StepsthatmightbetakentowardthisendincludeincreasingtheUCPD’snon-
uniformedpresence,i.e.usingmoreplainclothesofficers,andallowingstudentstoactassafety
monitorswiththemeanstoimmediatelyreportpotentialtroubletofirstresponders.
RemindingNon-DepartmentalHostsofTheirObligationstotheCommunity
Asnotedearlier,RegisteredStudentOrganizationsreservedmorethan11,000spacesoncampusin
Fall2017,onlytwoforeventsthatdisruptedthecampus.RSOsrepresentvitalcommunitiesof
interestatBerkeley,andtheCommissionfoundthattheircontributionstocampuslifeare
overwhelminglypositive.Thecampusshouldbewaryofundertakingchangestoproceduresthat
woulddisruptthesevaluableactivities.
TheCommissionfullyendorsesthedistinctionimplicitintheMajorEventsPolicybetweenoutside
speakersinvitedtocampusbyRSOsandoutsidespeakerswhomaketheirownarrangementsto
rentcampusfacilities.Eventsoftheformerkinddeservespecialprotectionbythecampus,insofar
astheyresultfromtheexerciseoftherightsofauthorizedmembersofthecampuscommunityto
engageinpoliticalandotherspeech.
TheCommissionconsideredwhetherconditionsmightbeimposedonRSOsbeforetheyare
authorizedtoinviteoutsidespeakersundercampuspolicies,includinganincreaseinthenumberof
membersanRSOmusthavetoextendsuchinvitations,orarequirementthattheybeinactive
existenceforaminimumperiodbeforetheyareallowedtosponsoroutsidespeakers.Butitquickly
becameclearthatmeasuresofthiskindwouldbeextremelydisruptivetothehealthyecosystemof
RSO-sponsoredactivityoncampus.
TheseconsiderationspersuadedtheCommissionthatRSOsthemselvesdonotneedchanging.But
thereareneverthelesssomeproceduralmeasuresthatcouldhelptoclarifytheresponsibilitiesthat
RSOsassumewhentheyinviteoutsidespeakers,andbetterpreparethecampusforpotentially
disruptiveeventsthattheyhost.Specifically,theCommissionbelievesanRSOorothernon-
departmentalhostwishingtostageapotentiallydisruptiveeventshouldbeaskedtodothe
followingasawayofengagingwiththelargercampuscommunity:
1. Assumefullorganizational,contractual,andsupervisoryresponsibilitythroughoutthe
planningprocessandbeabletoansweranyquestionsabouttheevent,eveniffunding
comeslargelyfromoutsidesources.
2. Havevolunteersfromthecampuscommunityassistatpotentiallydisruptiveeventsthey
sponsor,inaratioofonevolunteerper50expectedparticipants.
13See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3duS4q26zQc at 48:00. 14See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3duS4q26zQc at 18:00.
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3. Submitapublicstatementinsupportofeventsthatrequireadditionalsecurity,addressing
(a)therationalefortheevent,(b)whatnewperspectivestheeventwillbringtodiscussion
oncampus,and(c)howtheeventisconsistentwithBerkeley’sPrinciplesofCommunity.
Measures(1)and(2)aremeanttoensurethateventsaregenuinelysponsoredbyRSOs,andthat
thereisalevelofinterestinandcommitmenttothemcommensuratewiththeiranticipatedscope.
Measure(3)isintendedtofunctionasamodestremindertoRSOsoftheirresponsibilitiesin
organizingeventsthatfeatureoutsidespeakers.Asmembersofthecampuscommunity,theyhave
explicitobligations,underthePrinciplesofCommunity,toensurethateventstakeplaceinways
thatareconsistentwiththecommitmenttoaclimateofinclusionandmutualrespect.Less
explicitly,wheneventsfallundertheMajorEventspolicy,andhencehavethepotentialtoimpose
significantcostsonthecampus,theCommissionfeelsthatRSOsowetherestofthecampusabrief
publicexplanationofwhattheyhopetogainfromhostingtheevent.
TheCommissionisemphaticthattheseobligationsmustbeimposedonaviewpoint-andcontent-
neutralbasis.Inparticular,itisnottheCommission’sintentionthatthepublicstatementrequired
undermeasure(3)beofficiallyvettedorreviewed,muchlessthatitbeusedasabasisfor
determiningwhethertheplannedeventmaygoforward.Theidea,rather,isthatthesponsoring
RSOprovideabriefaccountofthevalueitseesinhavingtheinvitedspeakervisitcampus,andofits
plansforensuringthattheeventwillgoforwardinawaythatacknowledgesthePrinciplesof
Community.Thestatement,oncesubmitted,willbepostedtoapublicwebsite,whereitcanberead
byanyoneinterestedinunderstandingtheRSO’sintentionsfortheplannedevent.
ImprovedCommunicationaboutDisruptiveEvents
OneadvantagetheMajorEventsPolicyshouldgivethecampusisadditionaltimetoformulatea
safetyplanandtoshareitwiththecampuscommunity.SeveralwitnessesattheJanuary19open
commentsessionexpressedfrustrationaboutsecuritymeasurestakeninFall2017,commenting
thattheywereleftinthedarkaboutwhycertainsecurity-relatedstepsweretakenandwhystaff
werenotincludedinsecurityplanning.15Lackingclearinstructionsorevenasenseofwhatthe
campusaimedtoachieve,thesestaffmembersdidtheirbesttokeeptheirstudentssafe,butcould
notbecertainthattheyweregivingtheircampusclientsaccuratesafetyadvice.
Effectivecommunicationstartsfromthetop.TheCommissionrecommendsthatasapotentially
disruptiveeventnears,andinconsultationwiththeUCPD,seniorleadershipincrease
communicationaboutthestepsfaculty,staff,andstudentscantaketoprotectthemselves.Such
communicationshouldanswerthefollowingquestions:
● Mayinstructorscancelclasseswithoutpenalty?
● Maystudentsskipclassesorothercampusappointmentswithoutpenalty?
● Maystaffleavetheirpostsiftheyfeelthreatened?
● Ifnot,whataretheiralternatives?
Further—andperhapsseparately—beforeapotentiallydisruptiveevent,seniorleadershipshould
stateloudly,clearly,andmorethanoncethatitdisapprovesofintentionalprovocationontheone
hand,andviolenceandplatform-denyingontheother.
15 For example, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3duS4q26zQc at 42:30.
12
Moregenerally,theCommissionrecommendsthatthecampustrainandencouragesupervisorsto
bettercommunicatetostaffandstudentsaffectedbynearbyprovocativeevents.Thecampus
shouldalsodevelopmechanismsforsupportingmembersofthecampuscommunitydoxxedor
otherwisethreatenedasaconsequenceoftheirlawfulparticipationinoroppositiontoa
provocativeevent.
CounterprogrammingDuringDisruptiveEvents
TheCommissionencouragestheAdministrationtoworkwithothercampusconstituenciesto
sponsorcounterprogrammingwhenespeciallycontroversialeventsthreatentocausemajor
disruption.Thecampusrightlysentseveralofficialmessagestostudents,faculty,andstaffduring
theeventsofFall2017,directingthemtothemanyvaluablecampusresourcesfordealingwiththe
traumaanddistressthatcanbecausedbyhatefulandexclusionarydiscourse.Butmessagesofthis
kindmayironicallyhaveplayedintothehandsofthehostilespeakerswhowereinvitedtocampus,
byencouragingmembersofthecampuscommunitytothinkofthemselvesprimarilyasvictims
ratherthanagents.TheCommissiondoesnotdenythathatespeechcanimposeseriousharmson
itstargets,andtheharmisonlyexacerbatedwhenthespeechisallowedtotakeplacewithinthe
boundariesofsharedcommunityspace.Atthesametime,thecampusispartofalargerpolitical
culturefilledwithdisturbingandhatefulrhetoric(especiallyonthesocialmediathathavecometo
definetheexperienceoffreespeechinthecontemporaryworld).Thecampusshouldencourage
membersofthecommunitytofunctioninthisenvironmentwithasenseofself-confidenceand
agency.
Tothisend,theCommissionsuggeststhattheAdministrationrespondtothemostdisturbing
eventsplannedforthecampusbysponsoringalternativeevents,perhapsscheduledatthesame
time,thataimtoempowerparticipants,byhelpingthemtounderstandcurrenteventsbetterandto
takeconstructivestepstocountertheforcesthatwouldseektoexcludeanddenigratethem.A
teach-inwithlocalrepresentativesoftheSouthernPovertyLawCenterelsewhereoncampus,for
instance,mightbeaneffectivecountertocelebrityhatespeechbyindividualsassociatedwiththe
disturbingresurgenceofwhitesupremacism.TheChancellorherself,andothercampusleaders,
couldexercisetheirownfreespeechrightsbyspeakingoutforcefullyagainsthatespeechon
campus,andencouragingparticipationineventsprogrammedtocountersuchspeech.
FinancialCosts
SecurityfortheSeptember2017ShapiroandYiannopoulosvisitscostthecampusnearly$4
million.16Thisisnotsustainable,especiallyforacampusinthethroesofeliminatinga$150+
milliondeficit.
TheBerkeleycampusisalightningrodforfreespeechissuesandthereforecarriestheburdenof
protectingtheFirstAmendmentfortheStateofCaliforniaandforpublicuniversitiesacrossthe
nation.TheCommissionthankstheOfficeofthePresidentforthegenerousfinancialsupportit
providedinFall2017,butrealizesthattheUniversitymaynotbeabletoprovidesupportforfuture
events.TheCommissionthereforerecommendsthatUCBerkeley,ideallyinconcertwithThe
Regents,asktheStateofCaliforniatofinanciallysupporttheUCsystem’seffortstoprotectthefree
speechrightsofallcitizens.
AnotherpossiblecourseofactionistorefuserequestsbyRSOstosponsoroutsidespeakerson
campuswhentheanticipatedcostofprotectingthemexceedsaspecifiedthreshold.Chemerinsky
andGillmannotethatcampusesmaydeny“requestsforgatheringsthatpresentinsurmountable
16http://www.dailycal.org/2018/02/04/uc-berkeley-split-4m-cost-free-speech-events-uc-office-president/
13
logisticalorsecuritychallenges,orifaccommodatingsuchchallengeswouldimposecostsaboveagenerallyappliedthreshold.”17(Italicsours.)Onewaytooperationalizesuchapolicywouldbetosetatotalsumthatthecampusiswillingtoexpendinagivenacademicyeartoprovidesecurityfor
eventssponsoredbyRSOs,andtodenyallrequeststosponsoreventsoncethis“generallyapplied
threshold”isexceeded.Thequestionis:howhighwouldthisthresholdbe?Is$4millionenough?
Would$40millionbeenough?
TheCommissionisdividedaboutwhethertorecommendestablishingacaponsecuritycostsand
defendingwhateverlitigationfollows.Ontheonehand,thecampusshouldnothavetoexpend
scarceresourcestoprotectcelebrityprovocateursseekingtopromotetheirbrand(and,insome
cases,tocastaspersionsonhighereducation)whensomanyessentialneedsgounfundedor
underfunded.Ontheotherhand,Commissionmembersareawarethatthecourtsarelikelytorule
againstpublicentitiesseekingtolimitfreespeech,andanycaponexpensesthecampussetsmight
seemarbitraryinthecontextofthecampus’soperatingbudget($2.7billion)andtheUniversityof
California’sconsiderablygreaterresources.Evenifthecampusweretosucceed,acaponsecurity
costsmighthavetheunintendedconsequenceofprecludingeventsthatcontributetoscholarly
discourseiftheprescribedcostlimithasbeenreached.TheCommissionsuggestsfurther
explorationofthisquestion.
Data
TheCommissionissatisfiedwiththequalitativedatagatheredforthisreport.Inadditiontofour
hoursofopencommentfromthecampuscommunityandanumberofwrittencomments(some
severalpageslong)senttotheCommission’semailaddress([email protected]),the
CommissionreceivedinputfromtheCityofBerkeleyandtwokeyAcademicSenatecommittees.
Membersalsobroughtinsightsfromtheirrespectivecampusconstituencies,andsincethe
Commissionwasequallydividedamongfaculty,staff,andstudents,discussionsreflectedabroad
rangeofcampusperspectives.
TheCommissionisnotsatisfied,however,withthequantitativedatagatheredforthisreport.
DespiteaconcertedeffortbyMemberGoddu,itprovedimpossibletoconductarandomsurveyof
studentsinatimelymanner.TheCommissionwasfortunatetoreceivedatafromtheOfficeof
Planning&Analysisregardingtheattitudesofincomingstudentstowardfreespeech.
Itremainsunknownwhetherthequalitativedataaccuratelyreflectwidercampussentiment.The
CommissionunderstandsthatDeanHenryBradyoftheSchoolofPublicPolicyandProfessorLisa
GarciaBedollaoftheSchoolofEducationaredevelopingascientificpollofBerkeleystudentsthat
willassessattitudes,perceptions,andknowledgeaboutfreespeech.TheCommissionrecommends
thatcampusleadershipsupportthisundertaking,sponsorfurtherpollstodeterminefacultyand
staffattitudestowardfreespeech,andconductfollow-upsurveysoverthenextfewyearstoassess
whethercampusattitudestowardfreespeecharechanging,andifso,how.
CampuswideEventsDatabase
TheCommission—althoughawarethatthecampusiscurrentlyquitelimitedinitsresources—
recommendsthatacentralizedeventplanningandsupportsystembeimplemented,principally
throughacampus-wideeventdatabase.UpgradingthesystemsusedbyASUCEventServicesand
ClassroomSchedulingwouldbeafirststep,buteventuallythecampusshouldtacklethe
complicatedtaskofincorporatingallcampuseventspaceintosuchadatabase.
17 Chemerinsky and Gillman, p. 128.
14
SupportingaFreeSpeechCulture
Finally,theCommissionencouragestheAdministrationtocontinuethestepsthathavealready
beenundertakentonurtureacultureofreasonedengagementwithawiderangeofpoliticaland
ideologicalviewpoints.Themostsignificantmodelinthisconnectionistheseriesoffreespeech
eventssponsoredbytheChancellorduringacademicyear2017-18.Forinstance,onMarch20,
2018,ProfessorRobertReichandHeritageFoundationfellowStephenMoore,liberaland
conservativeeconomists,debatedatInternationalHouse(AConversationAcrossthePolitical
Divide:TheRoleofGovernmentinTrade,Taxes,andInequality).18TheAdministrationshouldseek
tobuildonthismodel,makinghigh-profileeventsofthiskindaregularfixtureonthecampus,and
invitingthecollaborationofstudents,staff,andfaculty—includingtheRSOsthathavesoughtto
bringsomeofthemostcontroversialspeakerstocampusinrecentyears—inidentifyingpotential
participantsandinplanningeventsthatwillbeofinteresttoabroadaudience.Thisshouldserveto
solidifyBerkeley’sreputationasacampushospitabletoawidespectrumofthoughtandopinion,
andtoprovideapositiveexampletoourstudentsofconstructiveandthoughtfuldebatebetween
passionateadvocatesforopposingpointsofview.
WHATFACULTYCANDO
UCBerkeleyisthenation’spremierpublicuniversitylargelybecauseofitsdistinguishedfaculty.
FewstaffandstudentsareversedinthenuancesofFirstAmendmentlaw.Whobettertoteach
them?TheCommissionrecommendsthatfacultyengagewithstaff,students,andoneanotherinan
efforttoacquainttheentireUCBerkeleycommunitywiththefullmeaningoftheFirst
Amendment’sguaranteeoffreedomofspeech.Althoughthismightnotreducethenumberof
provocativeevents,itwillhelpsteerthecampusawayfromsuchnostrumsas“hatespeechisnot
protected”andotherformulationsusedtolegitimizedenialofaplatformtospeakerswitha
polarizingmessage.
PoliticalScience179mayserveasausefulmodelinthisregard.Aone-unit,pass/nopass
undergraduatecolloquiumwithenrollmentinthehundreds,PoliSci179hasfollowedthesame
pedagogicalformulaformorethan35years:putanengagingpoliticalfigureinfrontoftheclass,let
thatpoliticalfigurespeak,andthenallowstudentstoaskquestions.Conservativespeakershave
usedPoliSci179tochallengeliberalstudentssinceatleasttheGeorgeW.Bushpresidencywithout
disruptingthecampus.19
Thefacultycanbuildonthismodeltoeducatestudentsabouthowtodebateanddisagree
respectfully;abouttheharmsofhatespeechandthereasonshatespeechisunrestricted;andabout
thesocialcontract’sprecariousbutpreciousbalancebetweenindividualrightsandsocial
responsibilities.Offeringcoursecreditwouldincentivizestudentstoattendtheseeducativefora.
Considerationshouldalsobegiventocreatingalistofcourseofferingsacrossthecampusineach
semesterthataddressthetheoryandpracticeoffreespeech.
Finally,facultyshouldnotonlybewillingtofacilitateopenpoliticaldiscourse,buttopromote
communityvaluesbyengagingwithRegisteredStudentOrganizationsorothernon-departmental
hostsplanningeventsthatmightdisruptcampus.Thebenefitofthisapproachwasdemonstrated
byUCLAProfessorofSociologyGabrielRossman,apoliticalconservativewithtiestoUCLA’s
18http://news.berkeley.edu/2018/03/21/a-friendly-chat-between-rivals-robert-reich-and-stephen-moore-on-trump-taxes-tariffs/ 19 https://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/03/11_class.shtml
15
CollegeRepublicans.WhentheUCLACollegeRepublicansinvitedMiloYiannopoulostospeakin
February2018,ProfessorRossmansoughttodissuadethem,writinginanopenletterthat:
Themostimportantreasonnottohostsuchatalkisthatitisevilonthemerits.Your
conscienceshouldtellyouthatyouneverwantanythingtodowithsomeonewhoseentire
careerisnotreasonedargument,butshockjockperformanceart.Inthe1980s
conservativesmadefunof“artists”whodefecatedonstageforthepurposeofupsetting
conservatives.Nowapparently,conservativesarewillingtoembraceamanwhosays
despicablethingsforthepurposeof“triggeringsnowflakes.”20
Shortlyaftertheletterwaspublished,theUCLACollegeRepublicansdisinvitedYiannopoulos.
WHATSTUDENTSCANDO
TheCommissionheardmainlyfromstudentsoffendedbythemessagesbroughtbyMilo
Yiannopoulos,AnnCoulter,BenShapiro,andsupporters,butalsoreceivedtestimonyfrom
conservativestudentswhofelttheirpoliticalbeliefsmadethempariahsoncampus,tothepoint
wheresomeofthemfearedfortheirphysicalsafetyafterthe2016election.Amemberofthe
BerkeleyCollegeRepublicansallegedthisostracismextendstohowconservativestudentsare
graded.21TheCommissionfeelsstronglythatnostudentshouldbeevaluatedmoreharshlyor
treatedwithlessrespectduetohisorherpoliticaloutlook,nomatterhowoffensivethatoutlook
mightbetotheinstructorortoclassmates.NordoesanyoneontheCommissioncondonethekind
ofviolencethateruptedonFebruary1,2017inresponsetoYiannopoulos’sarrivaloncampus.
Thatsaid,theCommissionrecommendsthatallmembersofthecampuscommunitybemindfulof
oneanotheranddountoothersastheywouldwantdonetothemselves.Therearebetterwaysto
expandthepoliticaldialogueoncampusthantoinviteashockjockperformanceartist,asProfessor
RossmancharacterizedYiannopoulos,tobelittlehistoricallyoppressedcommunities.RSOshavethe
righttoinvitesuchprovocateurstocampus;buttheyalsohaveanobligationtohonornotjustthe
campus’sPrinciplesofCommunity,butitsmissionofeducation,research,andpublicserviceby
balancingtheirrighttoholdeventswiththeirresponsibilitytothecommunity.Similarly,those
offendedbyaspeakerhaveeveryrighttocounter-protest,butnottodenythespeakeraplatform
ortocommitviolence,includingpropertydamage,inthenameoftheirideology.
CONCLUSION
ThemembersoftheCommissionthanktheChancellorfortheinvitationtoreflectonthese
challengingandextremelyimportantissues.TheCommissionwasgivenanambitiousbriefanda
tightschedule,andthereweresomeinevitablefrustrationsatwhatitwasabletoaccomplishunder
theseconditions.Butallmemberswereimpressedbytheatmosphereofthoughtfulandrespectful
engagementthatcharacterizedCommissiondiscussions,andbytheconstructivewayinwhich
faculty,staff,andstudentscametogethertothinkaboutchallengesthataffectusall.The
Commissionhopesitsrecommendationswillmakeamodestcontributiontosustainingthe
campus’svigorousfreespeechtraditions.
20http://www.weeklystandard.com/open-letter-to-the-bruin-republicans-who-invited-milo-yiannopoulos-to-ucla/article/2011582 21 See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co7DcDcbYbo at 18:15 and following.
16
PROCESS
ChairedbyPrudenceCarter,Dean&ProfessoroftheGraduateSchoolofEducation,andbyR.Jay
Wallace,ProfessorofPhilosophy,theCommissiononFreeSpeechmetinpersononseven
occasions.
Atitsfirstmeeting,heldonNovember30,2017,the23Commissionmembersintroduced
themselves.AllCommissionmembersweregivenacoupleofminutestosharetheirthoughtson
freespeechandtheCommission’scharge.
ThesecondmeetingwasheldonDecember12,2017.TheCommissiondiscussedtheMajorEvents
Policy,thenintheprocessofbeingrevised.
TheCommissionmetforfourhoursonJanuary19,2018.Aftera90-minutediscussionofthelarger
philosophicalissuesunderlyingtheChancellor’scharge,theCommissionreceived90minutesof
testimonyfrommembersofthecampuscommunityabouttheimpactofSeptember2017’s“Free
SpeechWeek.”TheChancellorattendedtheportionofcommunityinputreservedforstaffworking
nearUpperandLowerSproulPlaza.Thelasthourwasspentdiscussingthecommunity’sinput,
whichincludedwrittencommentssubmittedviatheCommission’semailaddress
TheCommissionagainmetforfourhoursonFebruary5,2018.Membersdiscusseda
comprehensiveproposalfromtheLEADCenteraboutRegisteredStudentOrganizations(RSOs)and
themannerinwhichRSOsholdeventsoncampus.Theyalsodiscussedthepossibilityofmovingor
otherwisechangingthecampus’straditionalfreespeechzones,i.e.UpperandLowerSproulPlazas.
TheCommissionthenreceived90minutesoftestimonyfromthecampuscommunityonthese
issues,andspentanhourreviewingthecommunity’scommentsafterward,includingfurther
writtencommentssubmittedviaemail.
OnFebruary9,2018,theCommissionhelditslastfour-hoursession.Itspentnearlytwohours
discussingthenon-RSOrelatedquestionsposedintheChancellor’schargeletterandhowthe
campus’sPrinciplesofCommunitycanbeimplementedmoreeffectively.Afterthat,theCommission
heardanhouroftestimonyfromthecampuscommunityonthosesamequestions,andspentthe
remainderofthemeetingdiscussingthecommunity’sinputandthelastoftheemailsreceived
TheCommissionnextmetonMarch1,2018tohearfromtheCityofBerkeley(MayorJesse
Arreguin,CityAttorneyFarimahBrown,andPoliceCaptainDavidReece)aswellastheAcademic
SenateCommitteesonDemonstrations&StudentActionsandAcademicFreedom(Professors
RobertvanHouwelingandTyAlper).Afterthepresentations,theCommissionsharedpreliminary
thoughtsonwhatthisreportshouldinclude.
TheCommissionmetinpersonforthefinaltimeonMarch5,2018anddiscussedatlengththe
recommendationstobeincludedinthisreport.
StaffdevelopedanoutlineoftheCommission’sfindingsandrecommendations,andCommission
membersweregivenuntilMarch16,2018tocommentonitandtorecommendadditional
language.
CommissionmemberswerealsogivenuntilMarch23,2018toprovidetheindividualstatements
includedbelowasAppendixC.
17
ThroughouttheCommission’sdeliberations,memberswereencouragedtokeepupwithrecent
newsandopiniononrelevantsubjectmatter.EachmemberreceivedacopyofFreeSpeechonCampus,the2017bookpublishedthroughYaleUniversityPressbyErwinChemerinsky(DeanoftheSchoolofLaw)andHowardGillman(ChancelloratUCIrvine).Alistoffurtherreadings
suggestedtotheCommissionisincludedbelowasAppendixD.
18
APPENDIX A -- CHANCELLOR’S CHARGE LETTER TO THE COMMISSION ON FREE SPEECH
Dearcolleague,
IwritetoformallyinviteyoutoserveonaCommissiontoanalyzeeventsfeaturingexternal
speakersinordertorecommendchangesinpolicyandproceduresthatmightmakesimilarevents
lessdisruptiveandexpensiveforthecampus,andtoadvisehowwemightbestalignour
responsibilityforprotectingfreespeechwithourvaluesasacommunity.
TheintroductiontotheBerkeleyCampusRegulationsImplementingUniversityPolicies(linkis
external)statesthat“Inordertocarryonitsworkofteaching,research,andpublicservice,the
UniversityhasanobligationtomaintainconditionsunderwhichtheworkoftheUniversitycango
forwardfreely,inaccordancewiththehigheststandardsofquality,institutionalintegrity,and
freedomofexpression,withfullrecognitionbyallconcernedoftherightsandprivileges,aswellas
responsibilities,ofthosewhocomprisetheUniversitycommunity.”
Thestatementenshrinesfreedomofexpressionwhilehighlightingthecampus’s“obligationto
maintainconditionsunderwhichtheworkoftheUniversitycangoforwardfreely.”Recent
experiencehasshownthatmajoreventshostedbynon-departmentalusersmayplacethosevalues
inconflict.Wechargethiscommissionwithdevelopingasetofrecommendationsthatpreservethe
campus’sfirmcommitmenttofreeexpressionwhilereducingthelikelihoodofsuchexpression
disruptingthemissionofeducation,research,andpublicservice.Evenwhileweworkonhealing
thecampusfromtheeffectsofthedifficultclimatethatprevailedthisfall,weneedtoaskhowwe
candobetter.
WeasktheCommissiontosolicitbroadcommunityinputthroughhearings,email,andanyother
avenuesitchooses.
FollowingaresomeofthequestionsweasktheCommissiontoconsider:
● ShouldthecampusmakeanychangesintheInterimMajorEventsPolicy?Weaskthe
commissiontoprovideinputtothepolicycommitteethatdraftedtheinterimpolicy,
chairedbyInterimViceChancellorforStudentAffairsSteveSutton.
● ShouldpoliciesregardingtheusesofLowerandUpperSproul(includingtheSavioSteps)by
registeredstudentorganizations(RSO’s)andnon-affiliatemembersofthepublicbe
revisited?
● ShouldRSO’sbeabletoreservemultipleconsecutivedaysonLowerandUpperSproul?
● WhatistherightsizeforanRSO?(i.e.,howmanymembersshouldberequiredtostartan
organizationandkeepitinactivestatus?)
● Howcanthecampusminimizerepeateddisruptionofthesameareaofcampusbymajor
events?
● Doesthecampusneedtodevelopacentralizedreservationsystemforallofitsfacilities?
● Doesrentaloffacilitiesbythenonaffiliatedpubliccomeattheexpenseofcampususe,and
dotheserentalsgenerateenoughincometomakethemworthcontinuingtosupport?
Shouldfewerfacilitiesbeavailableforpublicrental?
● Howcanwecontainthecostsofsecurityformajorevents?
● Shouldstudentsbeabletoserveasobservers(asstaffandfacultycannowserve)atmajor
events?
19
● Howcanwebestprotecttherightofnon-violentprotest?
● Howcanwemakethepolicealessintimidatingpresenceatmajoreventswithout
compromisingsecurity?
ThecommissionwillalsoworkinconjunctionwiththeCompliance&EnterpriseRiskCommittee
(CERC)toreviewthefollowingpoliciesandregulations,alongwithanyotherpoliciesand
regulationsthatmayberelevant,andrecommendtoCERCchangesthatwouldapplytoallnon-
departmentalusersofcampusspaceequallyandinacontent-neutralmanner:
1. LEADCenterRegisteredStudentOrganizationrecognitionandsponsorshiprequirements(linkisexternal)(ownedbyStudentAffairs)
2. BerkeleyCampusRegulationsImplementingUniversityPolicies(linkisexternal),particularlyGeneralDefinitionssections(d),(e),and(f);Section121(FormationofCampus
Organizations);Sections211-251(RegulationsConcerningtheUseofUniversityFacilities
andServices);andSections311-368(RegulationsConcerningtheTime,Place,andManner
ofPublicExpression)(ownedbyStudentAffairs)
3. InterimpolicyonMajorEventsHostedbyNon-DepartmentalUsers(linkisexternal)(ownedbyStudentAffairsandRiskServices)
ThecommissionwillbeCo-ChairedbyPrudenceCarter,DeanoftheGraduateSchoolofEducation,
andJayWallace,ProfessorofPhilosophy.Bydesign,membershipwillinclude⅓faculty,⅓
students,and⅓staff/administrators,appointedbytheChancellor.
TheCommissionwilldevelopitsrecommendationsinconsultationwithstakeholderstoincludebut
notbelimitedto:
● AcademicSenate
● Studentorganizations,includingmulticulturalstudentorganizations
● StudentLearningCenter
● Studentathletes
● CityofBerkeley
● DowntownBusinessAssociation
● TelegraphBusinessImprovementDistrict
● BoardofVisitors
● Stafforganizations,includingtheChancellor’sStaffAdvisoryCommittee
● Campuseventmanagers,includingClassroomScheduling,AcademicandSpacePlanning
● Residential&StudentServicePrograms
● Alumni
Inaccomplishingthischarge,thecommissionwillbemindfulof,butnotboundby,thefollowing
timelineforcampusreviewoftheInterimEventsPolicy:
● October7:Interimpolicychangesdistributedforpubliccomment
● October31:Closeofpubliccommentperiod
● November15:ProposedpolicychangessubmittedtotheComplianceandEnterpriseRisk
Committee(CERC)PolicySubcommitteeforreview
● November30:ProposedpolicychangessubmittedtofullCERCforreviewandapproval
● December15:ProposedpolicychangessubmittedtoChancellorforapproval
● January9,2018:Policychangesimplemented
WhilediscussionwithintheCommissioncaninformthereviewprocessfortheinterimpolicy,
eitherthroughformalrecommendationoftheCommissionorthroughcontributionstothepolicy
reviewprocessbyCommissionmembers,thechargeoftheCommissionisbroaderthanthereview
oftheinterimpolicy,andtheCommission’sworkcancontinuebeyondthepolicyrevisiontimeline.I
wouldlikeaninterimreportontheCommission’sworkandrecommendationsbyAprilof2018.
20
PleaseconfirmyourcommitmenttoserveonthisCommissionassoonaspossibleviaemailtoAnne
Jones,ChiefofStafftotheViceChancellorforStudentAffairs.Thankyouforyourconsideration.
Sincerelyyours,
CarolChrist
Chancellor
21
APPENDIX B: COMMISSION ON FREE SPEECH MEMBERSHIP ROSTER Members
PrudenceCarter,DeanandProfessoroftheSchoolofEducation(co-chair)
R.JayWallace,ProfessorofPhilosophy(co-chair)
AnneBaranger,TeachingProfessor(UndergraduateEducation)
MargoBennett,Staff(UCPD)
ErwinChemerinsky,Faculty(DeanofSchoolofLaw)
JuniperangelicaCordova-Goff,Student(ASUCSenate)
OscarDubon,Staff(Equity&Inclusion)
MarcFisher,Staff(Administration)
CatherineFisk,Faculty(ProfessorofLaw)
MarielGoddu,Student(GraduateAssembly)
DianaHarvey,Staff(PublicAffairs)
NuhaKhalfay,Student(ASUCSenate)
DavidLandreth,Faculty(AssociateProfessorofEnglish)
AusjiaPerlow,Student(StudentOrganizations)
SidaliaReel,Staff(Equity&Inclusion)
AlfonsoBenjaminReyes-Mestidio,Student(StudentOrganizations)
MarissaReynoso,Staff(LEADCenter)
SofiSargsyan,Student(ResidentialHallAssembly)
MatthewSmith,Student(StudentOrganizations)
SusanSchweik,Faculty(AssociateDean,Arts&Humanities)
SteveSutton,Staff(StudentAffairs)
LuisTenorio,Student(GraduateAssembly)
ChristineTreadway,Staff(Government&CommunityRelations)
StafftotheCommission
AnneJones(StudentAffairs)
AndyGoldblatt(Chancellor’sOffice)
JillRodde(StudentAffairs)
LeonaChen(Chancellor’sOffice)
CounseltotheCommission
DavidRobinson(LegalAffairs)
Chancellor’sOfficeLiaison
JennyKwon(Chancellor’sOffice)
22
APPENDIX C: INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS
CatherineFisk,Faculty(ProfessorofLaw):
Thestudent,faculty,andstaffdiscussionofthebenefitsandcostsofpreservingBerkeley’shistoric
commitmenttofreedomofspeechillustrateswhyBerkeleyisoneofthegreatuniversitiesinthe
world.Itisgreatbecauseitisadiverseandwelcomingcommunitydedicatedtofreeexchangeof
ideasinarespectfulenvironment.InaffirmingtherightoffreespeechandtheBerkeleyPrinciples
ofCommunity,IhopetheCommissionwillpreserverobustdebate,spiriteddissentfromthe
veritiesoftheday,andthefreedomtoexpressideaswhileremindingusoftherealharmthat
recklessspeechcaninflict.
MarielGoddu,Student(GraduateAssembly):
UCBerkeleyisthetargetofoutsideforces.But,themostcatastrophiceventcamefromwithin:Free
SpeechWeekwasstagedbystudentswhosestatedintentionwastosparkpoliticaldebateoncampus.Whydidthesestudentsfeelalienated?WhatwillBerkeleydotopromotecommunity
valuesandfacilitateopenpoliticaldiscourse?Howwillweempowerstudents,faculty,andstaffto
participateindifficultconversations?Thestrongerourcommunity,thelowertheriskofdeviance
frominside,andthesmallertheimpactofdisruptionfromoutside.Let’sserveasamodelof
resilienceandtransparency.LETTHEREBELIGHT!
DianaHarvey,Staff(PublicAffairs):
OverthecourseofmyserviceontheFreeSpeechCommission,Icametomorefullyappreciatethe
profoundeffectwordscanhaveonthepsyche.Thisgoesforthehatefulwordsofspeakerswhoseek
onlytoprovoke,andalsoforthewordscomingfromthehighestcampusoffices.Inaddition,I
learnedthatthecombinationofwordsandtonecanindeedbepotent,andthatthelattercanshape
perceptionasmuchastheformer.SowhileIfeelthatIlearnedmorethanIcontributedtotheFree
SpeechCommission,itismyhopethatthoselearningswillshapethewaywecommunicatewith
eachotheroncampusandultimatelybuildamoretolerant,respectfulandinclusiveenvironment.
AusjiaPerlow,Student(StudentOrganizations):
Fundamentaltoourgoalofsecuringfreespeechprotectionsisexposingstudentstoavarietyof
viewpointsandensuringthateverystudentdevelopstheprowesstolistento,analyze,andif
desired,challengearguments.Wemustbeproactiveratherthanreactiveinourembraceof
ideologicaldiversity.Wewould,asacommunity,benefitfromaconcertedefforttointegratedebate
andpoliticalconsciousnessintothecurriculaacrossdifferentcolleges.Additionally,freespeechis
bestguardedwhenthefederalandstategovernmentssharethecommitmentandresponsibilityof
23
securingtheserightsfortheircitizensonpubliccampuses.Whatisthepurposeofourtaxdollarsif
nottheprotectionofourmostbasicrights?
SidaliaReel,Staff(Equity&Inclusion):
UCBerkeley’sFreeSpeechMovementofthe1960’sspawnedpreciselybecausestudentsprotested
againsttheestablishment.Wemustnotlosesightofwhatfreespeechlookslikeonacollege
campus,forstudents,faculty,andstaff.Staffareparticularlysubjectedtomental,emotionaland
physicalworkinterruptionsduringprotestsandmajorevents.Thedisruptionsandcostsof
bringingspeakerstocampusasmajoreventsaredaunting,regardlessofhowpolarizinganduncivil
thespeaker,andhowmilitarizedandcostlythesecurity.Amajoreventspolicythatconsidersthe
impactontheentirecampuscommunity,andoffersalternativelocations,willbringlogicand
reasonintoguidelinesaimedatminimizingdisruption.
24
APPENDIX D: RECOMMENDED BACKGROUND READING ● Hate speech is protected free speech, even on college campuses by Erwin Chemerinsky at
Vox.com, October 25, 2017.
● There is no 1st Amendment right to speak on a college campus by Robert Post on Vox.com, October 25, 2017.
● Williams College president: Don’t ignore the real threats in the debate over free speech by Adam
Falk in the Washington Post, November 14, 2017.
● There Have Been So Many Bad Lefty Free-Speech Takes Lately by Jess Singal in New York Magazine, November 12, 2017.
● Statement by Robert Zimmer (President, University of Chicago) to his campus community about
the events in Charlottesville. August 22, 2017
● Ta-Nehisi Coates has an incredibly clear explanation for why white people shouldn’t use the n-word video at Vox.com, November 9, 2017.
● The Alt-Right On Campus: What Students Need To Know publication by the Southern Poverty
Law Center, August 10, 2017.
● What Berkeley's $800,000 Did -- and Didn't -- Buy During 'Free Speech Week’ by Chris Quintana in The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 10, 2017
● After a Year of Tumult, Evergreen State Revises Policy on the Use of Campus Space by Chris
Quintana in The Chronicle of Higher Education, October 24, 2017
● Judith Butler Overestimates the Power of Hateful Speech by Conor Friedersdorf in The Atlantic, December 12, 2017.
● Check Your Privilege When Speaking of Protests by Nisa Dang in the Daily Cal, December 26, 2017.
● Quarrel at Flagship Ignites a Battle with State Legislators by Eric Kelderman in The Chronicle of
Higher Education, November 30, 2017.
● There is No First Amendment Right to Speak on a College Campus by Robert Post on Vox.com, December 31, 2017. (Rebuttal to Dean Chemerinsky’s October 25, 2017 Vox article listed above.)
● Colleges Brace for Tumult in 2018 as White Supremacists Demand a Stage by Audra D. S. Burch,
New York Times, January 17, 2018.
● The Justice Department is Going After Berkeley for Squelching Free Speech. That’s Unfair by the Washington Post Editorial Board, February 3, 2018.
● Does College Turn People Into Liberals? By Matthew J. Mayhew et., al, at theconversation.com,
February 2, 2018.
25
● Open Letter to the Bruin Republicans Who Invited Milo Yiannopoulos to UCLA, by Gabriel Rossman, The Weekly Standard, February 14, 2018.
● Milo Yiannopoulos’ UCLA Talk About What He Hates About Mexico Canceled by Teresa Watanabe in
The Los Angeles Times, February 14, 2018.
● A Mentor’s Advice to UCLA’s Campus Republicans by Conor Friedersdorf in the Atlantic Monthly, February 20, 2018
● Ben Shapiro Speech Venue Triggers Threat of Lawsuit Against University of Minnesota by Maura
Lerner, Minneapolis Star Tribune, February 22, 2018.
● “Liberal” Campuses, Conservative Media, and the First Amendment by Charles Dunst in The American Prospect, February 23, 2018.
● College Students Support Free Speech -- Unless It Offends Them by Jeffrey Selingo in The
Washington Post, March 12, 2018.
● Everything We Think About the Political Correctness Debate is Wrong by Matthew Yglesias at Vox.com, March 12, 2018.
● If You Truly Care About Speech, You will Invite Me to Your Office to Personally Call You a Dipshit by
Alex Pareene at Splinternews.com, March 8, 2018.
● People Always Think Students Are Hostile to Free Speech. They Never Really Are by Andrew Hartman in The Washington Post, March 15, 2018.
● The Right is Worse than the Left on Free Speech. So What? by Jonathan Chait, New York Magazine,
March 20, 2018.
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