Many outdoor areas and a few buildings on campus are, in a general sense and during normal business hours, "open to the public." However, the entire campus and all University-owned buildings are private property. The University thus restricts access to some buildings and outdoor areas during business hours, and restricts access to all buildings and some outdoor areas during non-business hours. After buildings are closed for the day or weekend, University work and professional spaces such as offices, laboratories, classrooms, conference rooms, break rooms, lobbies, and lounges, may only be occupied by persons authorized by the University to access them. Outside of residence halls, no University spaces, indoor or outdoor, may be used by anyone for overnight stays or as places to sleep (either in the open or in structures or tents). In addition, from time to time, the University exercises its right to deny individuals access to all or some University property, normally after an individualized determination has been made that a person(s) has engaged in criminal activity, suspicious activity, or behavior that is or is likely to be threatening, violent or disruptive to University operations and activities. Refer to the No Trespass (Ban) Policy for more details.
All events and activities planned to take place out-of-doors on campus must be approved in advance by the Office of the Student Centers (773-834-0858). A University Department and/or Recognized Student Organization (RSO) must sponsor all outdoor events. Requests must be submitted at least forty-eight hours before the start of the event so that appropriate offices can be informed. The person in charge of the event(s) should submit a written request to reserve the University Quadrangle space, including the date, time, location, number of people expected to attend; whether food, alcohol, and/or non-alcoholic beverages will be served; and the playing of music, or other amplified sound, and set-up arrangements. (If alcohol will be served at an event, additional policies and approvals apply. See the University's Alcohol & Other Drugs Policy.) The erection or construction of any temporary structure (such as a tent, stage, fence, barrier, signs, or other markers) as part of an outdoor event or activity requires the advance written approval of the Director of the Student Centers (or designee) and consultation with the Environmental Health and Safety Office and Facilities Services. Unauthorized structures will be removed immediately. Additional information may be requested from the sponsor about the proposed event. Event organizers must be present for the duration of the event. All banners, tables, signs and other paraphernalia used, as well as all trash generated by the event, must be removed when the event concludes.
While advance arrangements are not required for spontaneous protests and demonstrations, all protest and demonstration particpants are subject to University policies regarding access to University property, alcohol, noise level, equipment construction, and appropriate use of facilities.
Alcohol is not allowed at events that have not received the appropriate alcohol approval (See the Alcohol Policy). University officials or agents of the University have the authority to prohibit attendees from bringing alcoholic beverages to any University event and require appropriate identification for dispensing alcohol at events that have received approval. Unauthorized beverages may be confiscated by the official or agent.
Any event produced in conjunction with an outside organization or firm (whether paid or not) may require special contractual and/or insurance arrangements. The sponsor of any such event should inform the Office of the Student Centers and the sponsor must make the necessary advance arrangements with the Office of Risk Management.
The City of Chicago does not permit the use of amplified sound on private property between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. To minimize the disruption of academic and administrative activities, music, amplified sound, or other loud noise, including singing, chanting, shouting, and the use of noise-making devices is permitted on University property generally only between noon and 1:00 p.m. and after 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends. Even during approved hours, all noise should be kept at a reasonable level and University officials may require event organizers to change the volume to a specific lower level, or turn off the amplifiers and/or cease noise-making altogether if the activity is taking place at or near Medical Center buildings.
Student organizations wishing to use amplified sound as part of an event or activity should make timely and appropriate arrangements with their Center for Leadership and Involvement advisor. While protestors and demonstrators however, may use amplified sound outdoors in accordance with the policies outlined above, they may not use amplified sound inside campus buildings. Depending on the location of the protest and demonstration activity, organizers may also need to obtain a permit from the City of Chicago and should consult the Office of the Student Centers for guidance. Banners and/or signs are to be erected only by University Departments or RSOs and the schedule of their display must be approved by the Director of the Student Centers (or designee).
The erection or construction of any structure (such as a tent, stage, fencing, barriers of any kind, signs, or other markers) requires the advance written approval of the Director of the Student Centers (or designee) and consultation with the Environmental Health and Safety Office and Facilities Services. Overnight occupation of such structures is not permitted.
For the University’s policy on unmanned aircraft systems (drones), visit https://provost.uchicago.edu/handbook/clause/policy-use-unmanned-aircraft-systems-drones