NOTE: This petition has stopped (as of 1:09pm, Dec 14, 2011) in view of the removal of the Protest Guidelines. 949 students, professors, staff, and concerned citizens have signed this petition. You can read the previously posted 'UCR Protest Guidelines' here. We welcome further comments. Stay in tune for updates.

Updates:
Jan 04, 2012, Read an open letter calling for accountability, democracy and transparency in the UCR administration and the 'Task Force'.

Jan 04, 2012, Task Force members announced. First meeting on Jan 06, 2012, close-door meeting, meeting venue and time and additional guest hidden from the public.

Dec 16, 2011, Composition of the guidelines 'task force' revealed: 4 students versus 17 faculty, staff, police and administrators.
Dec 15, 2011, Thank you all, the signers and supporters! Please see our letter here.
Dec 14, 2011, UCR Chancellor Timothy White issued second letter to remove the Protest Guidelines.
Dec 14, 2011, Insider Higher Education article features UCR Protest Guidelines and this petition: Protest Rules Protested.
Dec 14, 2011, UCR Protest Guidelines taken down in the morning and now the university 'Protest Guidelines' site is under construction.
Dec 13, 2011, UCR Chancellor Timothy White issued a letter planning to form a task force to review the Protest Guidelines with members by invitation.

The petition (suspended):

Chancellor White and members of the UCR community,

We are deeply disturbed by the recently developed UC Riverside student Protest Guidelines* by the Dean of Students Office. The guidelines impose repressive rules such as a requirement that protest plans be reported a month ahead and approved two weeks in advance, censorship of protest flyers and posters by the administration, the presence of a UCR staff person, and restrictions on movement around the campus. The nature and content of the Protest Guidelines infringe on and curtail students’ freedom of speech and assembly, which are fundamental human rights protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The rights of students, faculty and staff of free speech and assembly including protest are also protected by laws enacted by the California State Legislature (SB 1370, AB 2581). Further, the UCR Protest Guidelines are inconsistent with Chancellor White's recent declaration affirming commitment to freedom of expression and President Yudof’s statement on protecting “the rights of students, faculty, and staff to engage in non-violent protest.”

Student activism, including protest and free speech, has been a critical force in opposing State budget cuts to the UC and working to keep public higher education accessible.

We demand the immediate withdrawal of the Protest Guidelines.

We urge all members of the UCR community to protect the freedom of speech and assembly of students, faculty and staff. Failure to reverse these authoritarian rules will harm the exercise of free speech at our University.

* The 'Protest Guidelines' were taken down (not withdrawn) on Dec 14 and now the university has the page 'under construction'. You can read the Protest Guidelines here. From posting the 'guidelines' to taking them down and leaving a blank page, the university administration has never officially announced the 'guidelines' to students, faculty or staff.

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