University administrators set new restrictions to maintain order, but many argue it interferes with campus expression. Recent implementations of the policy have students wondering how they will be enforced.
Just days before the start of the Fall 2024 semester, the California State University Office of the Chancellor announced a revised Time, Place, and Manner policy (TPM), which regulates when, where, and how free speech may be expressed on campus properties. According to a CSU statement sent on August 21 to students, faculty, and staff, the interim systemwide policy followed legislation passed by California lawmakers earlier that month.
The revised policy also followed protests on U.S. campuses against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
While the revised TPM was issued to all 23 CSU campuses, each campus could draft an addendum outlining how the policy would address their specific needs and regulations. At CSUDH, this addendum was drafted by a seven-person University Response Team led by Vice President Bobbie Porter, who also serves as the Campus Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer.
According to the CSUDH addendum, no one would be allowed to remain on University Property between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., unless they were granted written permission by the university. Further, assemblies, marches, demonstrations and protests on campus would need to be scheduled and approved by the university in advance. According to CSUDH’s TPM website, the policy aims to protect free expression on campus while preserving university interests “such as campus safety and security.”
Although the revised TPM applies to students and managers on campus, staff and faculty will continue to follow the campus-based policy until further notice. While there were no protest encampments at CSUDH last spring, some faculty have voiced concerns about how the TPM will impact their ability to express themselves on campus.
While CSUDH had issued a campus-wide statement about the revised policy, several of the students The Bulletin spoke to for this article said they were unaware of the TPM overall. The Bulletin also reached out to some of the students who had met with CSUDH officials in May and June to request that the university disclose and divest from any investments in Israel. However, they declined to comment because they had not yet completed their review of the updated policy.
In a statement released on September 5, the California Faculty Association (CFA) criticized the TPM, saying the new guidelines would “fundamentally undermine the civil liberties of faculty, students, and staff.” Another CFA statement on September 12 described the policy as “Draconian” and “short-sighted,” arguing that the TPM would be used to justify and expand surveillance on campus.
In an interview with The Bulletin, CSUDH English professor Julia Talante expressed concerns about whether the TPM could adversely affect the wellbeing of students.
“CFA said hey, we think this policy is dangerous,” said Talante, who serves as chair of the CFA Women’s Committee. “We think that it is a significant threat to academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the right to protest for students, staff, faculty and community.”
Talante said she asked Porter whether CSUDH would request law enforcement on campus in response to any activities deemed by the administration to be particularly dangerous.
“She clarified verbally to me, although it’s not in the policy, that the circumstances under which police would be called are, if there is a threat to a person’s physical safety or serious property damage,” Talante said. She noted that the decision to request law enforcement on campus can be subjective.
Porter, the CSUDH vice president, told The Bulletin she had not heard any direct criticism about the TPM, and has worked to assuage any concerns.
“I have been able to build a lot of bridges with folks and help them understand how to keep
themselves safe and keep the campus community safe,” Porter said.
Porter discussed that there is no specific process outlined for appealing a TPM violation, although the policy does reference the student and employee codes of conduct. CFA said they contacted the CSU Chancellor’s Office in hopes of bargaining; meanwhile, representatives from the CFA legal team plan to review the TPM and discuss it with the CSU administration. For now, CFA said there are no plans to take action on campus to protest the TPM.
