Civil disturbance occurs when people hold protests and disruptions that threaten public safety, requiring public safety officials to get involved. Most demonstrations are peaceful; however, some may be disruptive or involve illegal activity.
During peaceful demonstrations, avoid the area of disruption, try to carry on business as usual and not provoke or obstruct the demonstrators. If the noise becomes too great, or the crowd is too large, feel free to close and lock office doors and windows — this is a departmental decision.
If tensions start to escalate, do not engage in verbal confrontations, and do not physically engage. Be vigilant and aware of unfolding events. If you are personally confronted, remain calm and try not to raise your voice or escalate the situation.
Demonstrators causing disruptions in normal campus operations may be asked to disperse. Failure to disperse could result in arrest or conduct sanctions for students or employment action for employees, and potential exclusion from campus for everyone.
University Free Speech Resources
PSU invites you to explore its Free Speech Page to learn about free speech at PSU, what rules and policies should guide us when we exercise our right to free speech, and where to find support within our community when speech may be harmful or when you feel your speech has been restricted.
When to Call CPSO
CPSO should be notified immediately at 503-725-5911 if you observe: (a) immediate threat to/of health and safety, significant property damage and/or major operational disruption to PSU campus, (b) access in or out of university buildings is blocked, (c) unauthorized persons are in a restricted space, (d) illegal activity observed, and/or (e) you feel that you are in immediate physical danger.
Visit CPSO’s Threatening or Suspicious Activity page for more information on handling threatening behavior and/or phone or digital threats.
If a disturbance seems to threaten the occupants of the building, take the following actions:
- Call the police. Dial 911, use a Blue Light Phone around campus, or call CPSO at 503-725-5911 from your cell phone if you are on campus.
- Provide the address, location, and any details available to the dispatcher.
- Do not provoke or become part of the disturbance.
- Alert people in the immediate vicinity of the situation.
- Secure your area (doors, safes, files, vital records, expensive equipment, etc.).
- If safe to do so, leave and avoid the area as soon as you can.
- If you are in immediate danger and cannot leave or avoid the area, move to an interior space away from windows, lock doors and follow shelter-in-place emergency procedures.
- If Public Safety staff directs faculty, staff, and students to remain indoors or evacuate, refer to the “Shelter in Place” and “Evacuation” emergency procedures.
- CPSO may initiate a “soft lockdown” or require identification to access any affected PSU University facilities.
If you encounter hostility, use the following steps when communicating:
- Remain calm.
- Be courteous and confident.
- Allow the opportunity for the person to express their feelings and concerns.
- Listen respectfully and objectively.
- Be non-judgemental in your verbal and non-verbal communication.
- Alert CPSO immediately if a threat exists.
- If safe to do so, document and take photos to share with law enforcement.
- Notify your supervisor and your department chair as soon as you are able.
Do not:
- Corner or crowd the hostile individual.
- Attempt to touch the individual.
- Blame anyone.
- Do not minimize the individual’s concerns.