Sec. 900-01: Free Speech at UCI Policy

University of California, Irvine

  • Speech Code Rating
    Green
  • Speech Code Category
    Protest and Demonstration Policies
  • Last updated
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Relevant Excerpt

In general, the more public a campus space is, the fewer restrictions on speech will apply in that space. Similarly, the more private a campus space is, the more restrictions on speech may apply there. In an effort to articulate this continuum, courts have categorized public spaces as “traditional public forum,” “designated public forum,” “limited public forum” or “non-public forum.” Different rules apply to each category. Thus, the first step in determining which rules apply to a space is determining to which category the space belongs.

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UCI spaces are divided into the following types:

a. Outdoor Space Open to the Public: Outdoor areas of UCI that: 

  • are at least 20 feet from an entrance to/exit from a building or parking lot; 
  • do not restrict movement on walkways or roadways; and 
  • are a safe distance from roadside curbs 

    are designated public spaces open to speech and other expressive activity, subject to content-neutral, viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner regulations that serve UCI’s significant interest in allowing the functioning of the campus. Any content-based restrictions must be necessary to achieve a compelling university interest.

b. Student Center and Newkirk Alumni Center: Certain spaces within the Student Center and the Newkirk Alumni Center are designated public spaces open to speech and other expressive activity, subject to content-neutral, viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner regulations that serve UCI’s significant interest in allowing the functioning of the campus. Any content-based restrictions must be necessary to achieve a compelling university interest.

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The following spaces at UCI are available for expressive activity:

a. Available without reservations (subject to availability because others may have made reservations). Time (for example, not after dark), place (for example, not on walkways), and manner (for example, without amplification) rules apply: 

  • Aldrich Park 
  • Ring Mall (unreserved spaces) 
  • Aldrich Hall Lawn (the grass between Aldrich Hall and Parking Lot 1) 
  • Outdoor Plazas

b. Available with reservations (contact the appropriate reservations office). Time (for example, not after dark), place (for example, not on walkways), and manner (for example, without amplification) rules and other rules may apply:

  • UCI Conference Center 
  • Aldrich Hall Flagpoles 
  • Classrooms 
  • Newkirk Alumni Center 
  • Bren Events Center
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