Policies and Guidance

Core Policies

This section provides guidelines on the core university policies as well as the legal frameworks that govern speech and expression at Stanford.

Governing Documents

The guidance of this website largely elaborates and clarifies a number of foundational documents that govern university policies on expression.

Definitions and Background

Key concepts from First Amendment law, such as content- and viewpoint-based restrictions, and time, place and manner.

Academic Freedom

Freedom of expression of the professoriate in the context of teaching, learning, and scholarship is protected.

Campus Disruptions

Preventing, disrupting, or obstructing University functions, including teaching, research and work, is not allowed.

Fundamental Standard

While students are expected to contribute to an open and respectful environment, speech protected under the First Amendment cannot be subject to disciplinary action.

Protected Speech, Discrimination and Harassment

The First Amendment and the Leonard Law entail a broad protection of speech on campus. However, certain speech may constitute violations of Title VI or Title XI of the Civil Rights Act.

Political Activities

Political activity such as campaigning on behalf of the University or using University resources is against policy due to Stanford’s tax-exempt status.

Members of the campus community are able to organize events at many locations on campus. This section outlines how the rules for various kinds of spaces on campus apply to events, including protests and rallies.

Major Events

Events with more that 100 expected attendees, involve a march or rally, or a high profile speaker require registration but will not be denied based on viewpoint.

White Plaza and Other Designated Outdoor Event Spaces

Five outdoor campus spaces including White Plaza can be reserved for large events. White Plaza is designated for spontaneous gatherings that do not require advance permission.

Other Campus Spaces

Besides the designated outdoor event spaces such as White Plaza, many areas of campus and indoor meeting spaces are available for reserved or spontaneous use by smaller groups.

Main Quad, Memorial Court, and the Oval

These historic areas of campus are considered academic and pedestrian zones and are generally restricted for events and gatherings.

Posters, Banners and Chalking

Depending on location (White Plaza, residences, classroom buildings etc.), the rules allowing posters, flyers, banners vary. Sidewalk chalking (except on brick) is generally permitted, but not on buildings or other structures like benches or fountains.

Camping, Tabling, Outdoor Structures

Overnight camping is not allowed nor is putting up canopies or other outdoor structures without permission. Tabling in White Plaza is allowed when following specific rules.

Identification Requirements

Members of the community, and visitors to campus, must be able to verify their identity, including by visual check, when requested by officials.

Visitors to Stanford

While Stanford welcomes visitors, they cannot organize events on campus without permission. Visitors may hand out flyers in White Plaza, but they may not use tables or other structures.

Campus Disruption

The university has a longstanding policy that is intended to ensure the continued operation of its core educational and research activities while placing significant value on community members’ freedom of expression. This section clarifies what forms of behaviors or activities would be considered disruptive and violate the 1968 Policy on Campus Disruptions and which would be deemed permissible. Any disruption of classrooms, lectures and public events will be treated as a serious violation of the Campus Disruptions Policy.

Classrooms, Lectures, and Public Events

Disrupting a class or invited lecture is a major violation of the campus disruption policy because it impedes the core educational function of the University.

Examples of Disruptive and Nondisruptive Protest

Protests of speakers can take place in a time, place and manner that does not disrupt or impede an event.

Other Common Scenarios

Creating loud noise in close proximity to residences or academic buildings and preventing access to, or taking over, buildings or spaces of academic activity violate the disruption policy.

Privacy

Recent years have witnessed the rise of social media and a concomitant increase in litigation around speech. These developments have had a drastic impact on classrooms, lectures, and the public square, and have impacted Stanford’s educational mission as well as the free flow of ideas and critiques required for successful research. The speech of faculty, students and staff may be chilled when their exercise of freedom of expression results in threats of violence, reputational harm or financial liability. Stanford has taken the measures below to minimize these threats and consideration of additional steps is ongoing.

Doxxing in particular involves the malicious publication of personal information online without a person’s consent. Because doxxing can lie close to speech protected under the First Amendment and the Leonard Law, California’s anti-doxxing statute and Stanford’s anti-doxxing policy are narrowly drafted. The university as well as students, faculty, and staff can, however, take other steps to protect personally identifying information and foster a free exchange of ideas, as detailed in the pages below.