Guidelines & Policies

Overview

Free speech and peaceable assembly are basic requirements of Princeton University as a center for free inquiry and the search for knowledge and insight. These rights involve a concurrent obligation on the part of all members of the University, guests, and visitors to maintain on the campus an atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits and to respect the rights of all individuals.

While Princeton generally does not regulate the content of speech, it may reasonably regulate the time, place, and manner of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt the ordinary activities of the University. The University also enforces rules prohibiting discrimination and harassment. A wide range of protest activity is allowed, but protests must not create a hostile environment (or otherwise violate the law), or significantly disrupt University operations and events.

As noted in the University’s Statement on Free Expression (RRR section 1.1.3):

“The University may restrict expression that violates the law, that falsely defames a specific individual, that constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, that unjustifiably invades substantial privacy or confidentiality interests, or that is otherwise directly incompatible with the functioning of the University.”

This page includes some key policies and guidelines related to protests. Additional information is provided in the FAQs and at Protests and Free Expression | The Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students. You may also contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students (ODUS) if you have additional questions.

“Time, place, and manner regulations are fully consistent with—indeed, they are necessary to—Princeton’s commitment to free speech. The purpose of our policy is ‘to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation,’ not simply to maximize expression in all its forms, no matter how disruptive.”

– President Eisgruber’s May 2024 column in Princeton Alumni Weekly, “On Encampments, Free Speech, and ‘Time, Place, and Manner’ Rules on University Campuses”

Rights, Rules, Responsibilities

All members of the University community are required to follow the policies outlined in Rights, Rules, Responsibilities in order to “protect the well-being of the community and to advance its educational mission by defining and establishing certain norms of behavior” (section 1.1.1).

Certain sections provide information regarding the exercise of free expression and protests on campus, including:

Protest and Dissent Activities

Provided below is information related to select protest and dissent activities. In addition to the information provided here, other University policies, including those governing the use of grounds and buildings, may apply. Please review the FAQs for additional information.

Before, During and After a Program

Individuals and groups may not:

  • Disrupt the program.
  • Disrupt regular and essential operations of the University.
  • Block entrances or exits, impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or prevent others from entering or leaving the program.
  • Project lights or imagery on University buildings or grounds without prior approval.
  • Camp in vehicles, tents, or other structures, or keep unattended belongings outside overnight. Sleep overnight in outdoor or public spaces of any kind.
  • Use amplified sound (including but not limited to bullhorns, musical instruments including makeshift instruments, noisemakers such as airhorns, and amplified speakers) in outdoor spaces prior to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If used in violation of University policy, items used to amplify sound are subject to confiscation by the University. 

Activities that take place in the vicinity of University classrooms, laboratories, libraries, the chapel, offices, and similar facilities must be conducted in a manner that respects the necessity for maintaining a reasonable degree of quiet in such areas. Thus, in these areas, events likely to generate substantial crowd noise and/or utilizing amplified sound may be restricted on evenings or weekends if classes, exams, programs, events, or lectures would be disrupted by such noise. Information regarding restrictions related to noise in the vicinity of dormitories is available in section 2.2.1 of Rights, Rules, Responsibilities.

Where noise may extend outside the University community, the organizing group or individual must obtain approval from the Municipality of Princeton. Applications for noise permits should be submitted to the Municipality at least two weeks in advance of the proposed event. Information regarding noise permits is available at the Clerk's Office Permits & Applications, Princeton, N.J. 

See Forms of Expression for additional information.

Chalk & Tape

The use of chalk and tape applied to University grounds and walkways is prohibited.

See Distribution of Written Materials by Members of the University Community for additional information.

Marches

March routes should be discussed with ODUS so as not to disrupt University operations while ensuring public safety as well as continuity of pedestrian and vehicle traffic on campus. Where marches and public assemblies extend outside of the University community, the organizing group or individual must submit the appropriate application(s) with the local Princeton municipality at least two weeks in advance of the event. Information regarding marches and public assembly permits is available at the Clerk's Office Permits & Applications, Princeton, N.J.

See Forms of Expression for additional information.

Posters

Permitted Posting Areas

Posters or notices of any kind may be affixed only to bulletin boards in dormitory entryways, dining areas, academic and administration buildings, and outdoor kiosks, lampposts, and bulletin boards. 

Prohibited Posting Areas

When posting posters or notices of any kind, please respect University property. Posters or notices of any kind are not permitted on buildings, chain link fences, wood paneling, benches, sidewalks, roadways, the natural landscape (e.g., trees, shrubs, grass) and any location not in the list of approved locations in the preceding sentence.

Contact Information

While not required, individuals, groups, and student organizations are strongly encouraged to include contact information on all posters. The contact information should include the sponsoring student or group’s name, phone number and/or an email address. The purpose is to direct individuals with questions, comments, or seeking additional information to the most appropriate and informed source. If a complaint is filed regarding a poster that does not include the name and contact information for the sponsoring organization, the University will remove it.

Posting Timeline and Removal of Posters

Generally, posters are left in place until after the posted event date or as weather conditions allow. For posters without an event date, we recommend including a posting date to allow a life cycle of approximately two weeks. Other than the person who posted the poster, only authorized staff may remove posters for events that have not yet occurred. Individuals are encouraged to remove material from kiosks and bulletin boards for events that have already occurred and may not poster over existing notices. No one may deface, obscure, or destroy existing posters. 

See Distribution of Written Materials by Members of the University Community for additional information.

For questions regarding the University Poster Policy, or to report potential violations of the poster policy or suspected vandalism of posters, please contact the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students or call (609) 258-5750.

Symbolic Structures

Protests may also take the form of symbolic structures. University groups may construct or erect temporary displays and symbolic structures only with University approval. Examples include exhibitions, interactive displays, walls, models, and other symbolic structures. Such displays must include attribution, including contact information for the sponsoring group. ODUS will work with the group to obtain approval and identify an appropriate location and mechanisms to secure the display, secure reservations, and liaise with University offices, such as University Scheduling, Facilities, Grounds, and the Office of the University Architect. 

To initiate the review and approval process, please email the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students or register a request for a temporary display in My PrincetonU.

See Forms of Expression for additional information.