Demonstrations/Peaceful Protests
Student Right to Demonstrate
All currently enrolled students, undergraduate and graduate, have the right to organize and participate in peaceful demonstrations on College premises. Otis College affirms students' rights to free expression and peaceful protest, including protests directed toward College decisions, policies, or broader social and political issues, as protected under the First Amendment and California law.
Permissible Conduct
The College may place reasonable limits on time, place, and manner of demonstrations to ensure the safety of the campus community, prevent substantial disruption of College operations, and protect the rights of others.
Demonstrations may be limited, disallowed, or disbanded if they:
- Incite or involve violence, threats of violence, or harm to individuals or property;
- Pose a safety or security threat to the campus community;
- Substantially disrupt academic classes, College operations, or scheduled events;
- Violate the rights or safety of others.
While demonstrators may enter campus buildings for peaceful purposes, they may not:
- Enter or occupy rooms, offices, or restricted areas;
- Obstruct entrances, exits, hallways, stairways, or impede free movement;
- Interrupt or interfere with College business functions;
- Remain in buildings beyond normal hours of operation.
Restricted Areas for Demonstrations
To protect the safety and functioning of the College, demonstrations are not permitted in or around:
- Residence halls
- Private offices
- Classrooms or meeting spaces in active use
- Libraries or collections of sensitive/valuable materials
- Facilities containing educational records, personnel files, or financial records
- Security offices, utility spaces, and other critical operational facilities
Unacceptable Behavior
Demonstrators must not:
- Engage in illegal activity or violate College policy;
- Harass, threaten, or endanger others;
- Damage, deface, or alter property;
- Obstruct access to buildings or campus services;
- Violate the Otis College Code of Student Conduct.
Violations of these guidelines may result in disbanding the demonstration and referral to the appropriate College office (e.g., Division Student Affairs or Campus Safety and Security) for review or disciplinary action. Any College official with administrative responsibility for a campus space may direct a demonstration to end if it violates these expectations.
Otis College prohibits retaliation against any student for engaging in peaceful protest or expression consistent with this policy.
Counter-Demonstrations
Protests and demonstrations may invite differing viewpoints, including counter-protests. All students and student groups have the right to express their views, provided they do not infringe on others' rights to speak, assemble, or participate.
In some cases, to ensure safety and prevent conflict, the College may designate separate spaces for counter-demonstrations. Counter-demonstrators must also not:
- Disrupt or obstruct another group’s demonstration or display
- Damage, deface, mark, or alter another group’s signs, tables, exhibits, or materials
All expectations described in this policy apply equally to counter-demonstrations.
Guidelines for Organizing a Demonstration
To help ensure a safe, inclusive, and productive demonstration, student groups are strongly encouraged to take the following steps:
- Reserve a space
Reserve outdoor or indoor space through the College’s event reservation system. Meet with the Dean of Student Affairs, or designee (email studentaffairs@otis.edu) to submit the official reservation. - Meet with Campus Safety
Engage with the Office of Campus Safety and Security early in the planning process to identify any safety concerns and to coordinate emergency response and crowd management procedures. Officers may be present during demonstrations to support safety for all participants. - Coordinate with Student Affairs
Meet with the Director of Student Engagement and Leadership or a designated Student Affairs staff member to:- Finalize safety, accessibility, and crowd management plans
- Clarify expectations and responsibilities
- Ensure alignment with the College’s mission and operations
- Ensure Accessibility
Consider the needs of participants with disabilities or mobility challenges. The Disability Services Office can help ensure accessibility and provide advice on accommodations. - Inform Participants of Expectations
Organizers should:- Share the Code of Student Conduct with attendees
- Ensure at least one representative is present throughout the event
- Encourage peaceful behavior and respect for the rights of others
- Know Who to Contact
If concerns arise before or during a demonstration, students should contact:- Dean of Student Affairs for questions about student conduct and rights.
- Office of Campus Safety and Security for immediate safety or emergency needs.
- Disability Services Office for accessibility-related guidance
Note on Visitors
Otis College is private property. Individuals who are not students, employees, or approved visitors with legitimate College business may be denied access to campus and/or asked to leave and escorted off campus by Campus Safety and Security.
Due Process Procedure
In the event a student has an issue or concern that is not otherwise addressed or provided for in this publication or on the Otis College website, the student may inform the Dean of Student Affairs or designee of the issue or concern. Otis College’s subsequent determination and resolution of the issue or concern shall be final.
Facial Identification Policy
While on campus, individuals must keep their faces visible at all times for safety and identification purposes and may be asked to briefly remove nonessential facial coverings to verify their identity. Full facial coverings that obscure the entire face are not permitted, but masks worn for health or medical reasons and coverings worn for religious reasons are allowed and respected. All students, faculty, staff, and visitors must also carry their Otis College or other identification card at all times.
Field Trips
Field trips which include off-campus tours of galleries and working studios, and other College-related off-campus activities, are part of the educational experience at Otis College. Students participating in field trips are expected to adhere to the same standards of behavior as published in the Student Code of Conduct and in the Travel Study Behavior Code of Conduct. Any violation of the regulations or local, state, or federal laws may result in disciplinary action or sanctions by the College. Students who choose to travel to the site of a field trip early or remain at the site after the planned activity is completed, or who willfully separate from the group, do so at their own risk. Students are responsible for carrying their own personal medication while on a field trip.
Freedom of Speech and Expression
The College supports every individual’s right to freedom of expression consistent with the forum (area of campus) in which the expression is made. The College also recognizes the importance of fostering a culture of tolerance and civility that is a cornerstone for the accomplishment of its educational goals. Within the classroom, visual and/or oral demonstrations, depictions, or conduct that may be offensive to an individual will not be restricted when there is a legitimate pedagogical context, such as material having an appropriate connection to the course subject matter. Similarly, campus discourse on topics of political, artistic, or social issues that are conducted in alignment with the nature of the forum and reasonable institutional limitations that are clear and unambiguous will be supported.
Expression that is severe, persistent, and objectively offensive, or directed toward an individual based upon that individual’s protected status (e.g., sex, gender identity or expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, veteran status, religion, age, or other characteristics protected by law), is not a protected form of speech or expression and can form the basis of a violation of Otis College policies, especially when coupled with prohibited behaviors. Other limitations on free speech include endangering someone or threatening them, inciting violence, using “fighting words” directed at an individual or group that directly provoke violence, defamation, obscenity, and expression that has a discriminatory effect such that it limits or denies someone’s educational or employment access, benefits, and/or opportunities.
Freedom Wall – Proper Use Guidelines
The Freedom Wall at Otis College of Art and Design is a “continuous” outdoor creative space where students can express themselves and/or visually share ideas, text, and images. Use of The Freedom Wall is a privilege afforded to students with the expectation that its use will foster a community of respectful engagement. The Freedom Wall is overseen by the Students’ Union which seeks to provide a safe place for student expression while maintaining a respectful and inclusive environment for the College community.
Proper Use Guidelines
- The Freedom Wall is for every student’s temporary use—it is not “owned” by any person or group. Work can be added and removed from The Freedom Wall at any time, within its clearly marked borders.
- All work can be removed, covered, altered, or reused by other students; makers forfeit ownership of their work when contributing to The Freedom Wall.
- All users of The Freedom Wall must adhere to the Core Values and Behavioral Expectations outlined in the Code of Student Conduct; misconduct such as but not limited to hate speech, defamation, discriminatory harassment, threats, bullying, or intimidation counter Otis College’s core values, and are prohibited.
- Objects attached to The Freedom Wall can protrude from its surface a maximum of 6” and cannot pose threat or cause injury to passersby. All objects should not weigh more than 10 lbs. All relief and/or attached objects must be safely secured to The Freedom Wall.
- Materials emitting noxious or hazardous fumes, gasses, or vapors during application are not permitted; materials that remain toxic or volatile upon drying/curing/setting are not permitted; all creations should become materially stable and inert within periods normally associated with common water- or solvent-based media (1-6 hours).
- If painting or using wet media, you must use provided tarps to cover the drain—All storm water drains to the Ocean.
The College reserves the right at any time without justification or cause to remove artwork from The Freedom Wall.
Gambling
Students are expected to abide by the federal laws and the laws of California prohibiting illegal gambling, including online gaming. Gambling for money or other things of value on campus or at College-sponsored activities is prohibited except as permitted by law. Such prohibited activity includes, but is not limited to betting on, wagering on, or selling pools on any College event; possessing on one’s person or premises (e.g., room, residence unit, car) any card, book, or other device for registering bets; knowingly permitting the use of one’s premises or one’s phone or other electronic communications device for illegal gambling; knowingly receiving or delivering a letter, package, or parcel related to illegal gambling; offering, soliciting, or accepting a bribe to influence the outcome of an event; and involvement in bookmaking or wagering pools.
Hazing
All acts of hazing as defined by this policy, by any individual student or sanctioned or promoted by any College registered student organization and any of its members or alumni are prohibited. Students are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect, and no individual may perform an act that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to any other person within the College community. Accordingly, any such behavior is expressly forbidden when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity.
Any student, faculty, staff, or organization found to be involved in any hazing activity will face conduct action and may be subjected to suspension or expulsion from the College. A violation of this policy may exist irrespective of any alleged voluntary or consensual participation in the activity by the person(s) being abused.
Hazing violations can be reported to the Dean of Student Affairs by going to Ahmanson 205 or emailing studentaffairs@otis.edu, or by submitting a Student Conduct Incident Report, linked here. Hazing violations are investigated through the Student Conduct process, outlined here.
The law of California makes it a criminal offense for anyone to participate in hazing. Otis College policy is based upon the proposition that students are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect. Otis College regulations on hazing and reporting hazing are synonymous with state and federal law as follows (Calif. Penal Code §245.6; Section 485(f)(1)(F) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(1)(F)):
- It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section.
- Hazing is defined as any intentional, knowing, or reckless act committed against another person(s) regardless of their willingness to participate that (1) is committed in the course of initiation, affiliation, or maintenance of membership in a student organization; and (2) creates a risk of physical or psychological injury, such as whipping, beating, striking, sleep deprivation, exposure to the elements, consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, sexual acts, activities that put someone in reasonable fear of bodily harm, or engagement in criminal violations of local, state, tribal, or federal law. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent, failing to discourage and/or failing to report those acts may also violate this policy.
- A student organization is defined as an organization at an institution of higher education (such as a club, society, association, athletic team, club sports team, fraternity, sorority, band, or student government) where two or more members of the organization are students enrolled at the university, whether the organization is established or recognized by the institution.
- A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
- Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment in the state prison.
- The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing.
- Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law.
Relationships Between Faculty/Staff And Students
Otis College of Art and Design prohibits all faculty and staff members, including graduate teaching assistants, and others involved in teaching activities, from engaging in or pursuing dating, sexual, or intimate relationships with students, including consensual relationships.
Faculty and staff members are in a position of trust and power with respect to a student’s educational activities. Relationships with students can jeopardize the effective functioning of the College’s mission by the appearance of unfairness in the exercise of professional judgment. This includes, but is not limited to, those students whom faculty or staff currently, or may in the future, instruct, mentor, evaluate, supervise, advise, or exercise other forms of professional responsibilities towards, such as allocating resources, selecting students for scholarships and awards, and providing recommendations or references.
The purpose of this policy is to create and maintain a professional learning and work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and exploitation. This policy recognizes that there is often an inherent inequity in dating, sexual, or intimate relationships between faculty/staff and students. Such relationships often result in perceptions of favoritism, bias, or discrimination that undermine academic achievements or decisions affecting students. The College has a policy against discrimination and harassment including, without limitation, sexual harassment. Dating, sexual, or intimate relationships between faculty/staff and students may result in claims of sexual harassment and questions about the voluntariness of the relationship. Please refer to College policies on Harassment, Sexual Harassment, and Non-Retaliation for more details.
Shoes on Campus
For the safety and wellbeing of the student community, all students must wear shoes at all times on campus property with the exception of a student’s residential room.
Smoking on Campus
Smoking and/or consuming tobacco (including chewing tobacco) or any other tobacco-related products is prohibited inside all campus buildings, instructional areas (workshops, etc.), gallery and studio spaces, and within the parking structure. For the purposes of this policy, tobacco-related products shall include all those containing either tobacco as an ingredient or any chemical derivatives and byproducts of tobacco (i.e., nicotine). Tobacco-related products include cartridges for smokeless cigarettes, electronic cigarettes/vapes, hookahs, and portable vaporizers. All outside smoking is restricted to the designated smoking area located on the east side of the Galef building.
Student Behavioral Expectations
As members of the Otis community, students are expected to behave responsibly at all times. The College expects and trusts its students to be honest in their studio, classroom, and community endeavors. Students are expected to assist in maintaining an environment that supports effective teaching and learning, and a culture of civility and respect for others. Any behavior that disrupts or interferes with the functioning of a classroom, studio, or College-sponsored off-campus venue may therefore result in students being asked to leave the class. In addition, students may be subject to disciplinary action as per the Code of Student Conduct and/or have their grade lowered in the course.