There are new rules for protesting at Sac State. See the protest against them

There are new rules this year across the California State University system regarding the time, place and manner that protests may be held. On Thursday, students and faculty at Sacramento State broke them.

The protest group erected an art installation titled “Free Speech Doesn’t Need Permission” on the Library Quad. The installation included more than 300 signs highlighting social movements that didn’t request or receive permission to bring about change.

“It’s really absurd that they put this policy into place without even consulting students,” said Michael Lee-Chang, a third-year political science major. “We paid to go here … these are taxpayer-funded grounds and this is a taxpayer-funded policy that they didn’t consult the actual paying taxpayers.”

Lee-Chang said that the systemwide policy imposes restrictions on face coverings and chalk.

“Kindergartners currently have more rights than college students,” he said.

According to the university FAQ, face coverings are allowed but protesters must identify themselves when asked while on university property. The policy was adopted after campus protests last year around the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The students were joined by faculty members in their opposition to the policy.

“CSU’s new time place and manner policy is very restrictive,” said Anne Luna, chapter president for the California Faculty Association. “It is stamping out free speech and expression on our campuses for our faculty without consulting with the union in violation of labor law.”