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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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(ucbpolicy@berkeley.edu),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

(ucbpolicy@berkeley.edu).

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

throughucbpolicy@berkeley.edu.

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.