Engage

Before planning an event, we encourage reading through the University’s policies regarding event management and planning. 

• Events calendar or listing of events currently happening:
  • Student Group events listed on GopherLink (gopherlink.umn.edu/events)
  • Student Unions & Activities (sua.umn.edu/events)
  • University Events Calendar (events.umn.edu)
• Distribution of Temporary Information through Publications, Banners or Chalking (policy.umn.edu/operations/publicationsbanners)
  • “Freedom of speech is a guaranteed right under the U.S. Constitution and a core value of the University. To sustain an open exchange of ideas, the University community is asked to be tolerant of differing points of view and respect the rights of others to express themselves. Any member of the University community who finds posted or distributed materials to be offensive or disrespectful is encouraged to contact their campus resource (see Appendix.)
  • Persons or groups distributing information are prohibited from:
    • coercing of others by demands, threats, or other means to accept publications;
    • interfering with or impeding the normal flow of either vehicular or pedestrian traffic on campus; or
    • interfering with, disrupting, or otherwise advocating disruption or violation of any other lawful activity of any other person(s).
• Major Events policy 
• Classroom Booking
• Outdoor Event Planning

Given that the University of Minnesota is a public institution, it cannot unreasonably limit students’ First Amendment rights.

• The First Amendment does not protect civil disobedience or unlawful misconduct.
  • “Even though the police or college can remove and possibly punish you for disruptive activity, like blocking traffic or interrupting classes, they can’t do so because they don’t like your message or point of view." FIRE
• The University of Minnesota is allowed to apply reasonable, content-neutral time/place/manner restrictions on protesting.The University does not have one single time/place/manner policy but does apply restrictions through use of outdoor space as well as policies applied to distribution of publications and chalking on campus. In addition, the Illinois ACLU has provided a short brief with information on time/place/manner restrictions and how a government actor can implement them.
• What you need to know before planning a demonstration:
  • Know your rights:
    • Generally, speech is constitutionally protected in traditional “public forums” such as public sidewalks and parks. 
    • Public streets can be used for marches subject to City or State permitting processes. 
    • University spaces can be used for public demonstrations subject to space reservations and permit permit processes.
• Students are encouraged to read the Student Conduct Code to understand what is not allowed at the University. For suspected violations, the University has a page dedicated to resolving Code violations.
• If you are involved with a violation of the Student Conduct Code, please see the The Office for Community Standards’ Disciplinary Process Resource for more information. Please note that Administrative Policy only applies where a sanction is sought for an alleged violation of the Student Conduct Code. The University disciplinary process is separate from any law enforcement disciplinary process, even if the alleged violation is the same in both cases. Please see the Support page for further resources and information. 
• Demonstrations without a permit may be considered a violation of the Student Conduct Code. The following actions are violations of the University’s Student Conduct Code (see Section IV):
  • Disorderly Conduct
  • Refusal to Identify and Comply
  • Harm to a Person
  • Attempt to Injure or Defraud
  • Theft, Property Damage, Vandalism
  • Rioting
  • Providing false information to a university or other official 
  • Violation of Local, State, or Federal Laws or Ordinances
    • (*Note, this is not an exhaustive list.)
• Unlawful demonstrations:
  • You can be arrested during a demonstration if you engage in unlawful behavior. Additionally, the police may treat “noncooperation” with the arrest process as a separate offense such as obstructing legal process, unlawful assembly, or presence at unlawful assembly, among others.
  • In Minnesota, police can charge you with:
    • Resisting arrest or obstructing the legal process
    • Assault and Battery
    • Disorderly Conduct
      • (*Note, this is not an exhaustive list.) 

The University has a naming policy that guides the process for requesting the review, renaming, or revocation of the name for buildings on campus. Information about how to submit a nomination or request is available online here through University Awards and Honors.

In February 2022, the naming policy was updated to include a provision that sunsets honorary namings after 75 years. This change was made to acknowledge the historical significance of each naming, as well as the evolving 

The Board of Regents Policy: Namings and Renamings was amended in February 2022 to include a 75-year sunset provision for honorary namings which seeks to acknowledge the historical significance of each naming, as well as the evolving landscape of the University’s past and achievements