UC Santa Cruz is committed to assuring that all persons may exercise the constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, and assembly. Further, the University seeks to maintain a safe environment for the free expression of ideas and ideals.

The ongoing opportunity for the expression of a variety of viewpoints is at the core of this commitment. As campus citizens, it is imperative that we live up to the responsibilities that accompany these rights.

The right of free speech in a university includes the right to acts of peaceful dissent, protests in peaceable assembly, and orderly demonstrations which including picketing and the distribution of leaflets. These are permitted on the UC Santa Cruz campus, subject to approval as to time, place and manner, unless or until, they disrupt regular and essential operations of the University or significantly infringe on the rights of others.

For more information on expressing your message, click here.

The Office of Campus Life and Dean of Students is committed to assisting individual students and student groups in achieving their program goals.

The Dean of Students is available to meet with individual students or student organizations regarding your event planning needs. To schedule an appointment, please write to deanofstudents@ucsc.edu. Please include the details for your event, including proposed date, time, location, expected number of participants and what assistance you anticipate needing.

The first step to planning and executing a successful and effective event is to be informed on relevant campus policies:

• Your primary resource is the Student Policies and Regulations Handbook, which includes the Policy on Speech and Advocacy, the Policy on Use of University Properties, and the Code of Student Conduct. Please review these for specific information related to public areas on campus and use of amplified sound.
• Other resources to consider and consult include: The UCSC Major Events Policy, SOAR policies related to student organization events and the Principles of Community.
• There are a number of resources available to assist you in understanding and applying these policies, as well as planning your event. In addition, for information on public speech areas in your college communities, and to reserve space, please contact your college office (contact information listed in the resources and contacts section).

To assist you in planning and implementing successful events, get to know the campus organizational structure. The following organizational charts show how the campus administrative and academic units are structured, which departments are clustered, reporting structures, etc. In addition, take a moment to review the Student Affairs Divisional and the Office of Campus Life organizational charts.

• Campus Administrative Org Chart
• Campus Academic Org Chart
• Student Affairs Org Chart
• Office of Campus Life Org Chart

• Student Judicial Handbook

• Use of University Properties and Free Speech: a comprehensive guide which highlights relevant speech and advocacy policies, use of university property policies and provides a list of contact information and resources.

• Principles of Community

• Dean of Students, 459-4446
• SOAR, 459-2934
• UCSC Police Department, 459-2231
• Judicial Affairs Office, 459-1738
• Quarry Plaza reservations and use of amplified sound: Don Williams, 459-1861

For information on public speech areas in your college communities, and to reserve space, please contact your college office:

• College Eight, 459-2361
• College Nine, 459-5034
• College Ten, 459-5034
• Cowell, 459-2253
• Crown, 459-2665
• Kresge, 459-2071
• Merrill, 459-2144
• Oakes, 459-2558
• Porter, 459-2273
• Stevenson, 459-4930