Dear campus community,
As you know, political commentator and radio talk show host Ben Shapiro is appearing at Zellerbach Hall on Thursday evening from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are sold out. To ensure the peaceful expression of free speech, preparations have been made for the Shapiro event by the campus and the city of Berkeley. As you plan your day, please be aware of the following:
- Building closures and closed perimeter. At 4 p.m., the University of California Police Department (UCPD) will erect a closed perimeter around Zellerbach Hall and surrounding buildings. At the same time, Zellerbach Hall and the following buildings will close – César E. Chávez Student Center, Alumni House, Martin Luther King Jr. Student Union, Sproul Hall and Eshleman Hall. Access to Zellerbach, which reopens at 6 p.m., will only be permitted for those with a ticket to the event.
- Major impact on south side of campus. The area around Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue will be heavily impacted by tomorrow’s events, and faculty, staff and students should take measures to avoid the area during the entire day. Use alternate routes and expect heavy traffic. Consult with your manager or faculty leader about any changes to your work or class activities for the day.
- Parking areas closed. Parking will be closed all day Thursday at the following locations: Barrows Lane Parking Spaces, Peppertree Lane Parking Spaces, North Sproul Lot and the ASUC Garage.
- Alternate pedestrian pathways. This map shows campus pathways to consider when walking the campus during the event. BearWalk will be available starting at 6 p.m.
- City of Berkeley regulations. The city has issued regulations for Thursday and has designated areas of the city in which restrictions will apply. On certain streets and sidewalks, there also will be temporary rules prohibiting various weapons. Please see a notice posted on the city’s website for more information.
- Nixle alerts. Members of the campus community are encouraged to subscribe to Nixle to receive security updates from UCPD today and tomorrow. UCPD posted this advisory message today.
- Increased and highly visible police presence. Police will seek to deter and confront unlawful behavior, while strictly enforcing laws and policies regarding individuals wearing masks or carrying weapons of any sort.
More information about campus logistics for the event and resources available to faculty, staff and students can be found in a Sept. 7 letter to the campus community by Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Paul Alivisatos.
Stay tuned to Berkeley News for updated information.
Together, let’s make this a safe and successful event.
If you are a manager who supervises UC Berkeley employees without email access, please circulate this information to all.