Civil Disturbance



The greatest concern in the event of a civil disturbance is the potential impact on the safety of students, faculty and staff. Should a riot or other civil disturbance develop in the community, or on or near the campus, Public Safety personnel will make every effort to minimize the impact. They will collect information regarding the severity of the problem, continue to monitor the situation as events unfold, and inform our community members as information is made available. This effort will continue until the disturbance has been resolved.

General guidelines for civil disturbances

  • Avoid the area of disturbance
  • Avoid provoking or obstructing the demonstrators
  • Stay away from glass doors or windows. If a class or lecture is disrupted, the offending person(s) should be requested to leave. If they refuse, call the police at 9-911 (911 from non-campus or cell phones)
  • If you are instructed to evacuate, and it is safe to do so, secure your work area, log off computers, and secure sensitive files
  • Activate registered cell phones** to receive campus emergency notifications that may be sent through the AlertSU system. Standby for periodic updates.

** The university emergency alert system, AlertSU, will be used to notify you of critical life safety issues on campus. Go to https://stanfordyou.stanford.edu (students use https://axess.stanford.edu/) and make sure your personal contact information is registered with AlertSU. For more information about the AlertSU system, please visit http://alertsu.stanford.edu.

If a riot or other civil disturbance develops in the immediate vicinity of the campus or encroaches onto Stanford property

  • If it is safe to do so, leave your building and the vicinity of where the disturbance is occurring
  • If Public Safety staff directs faculty, staff, and students to remain indoors, refer to the “Shelter in Place” procedure contained in this booklet
  • Do not attempt to confront or talk with the individuals causing the disturbance. Public Safety and local police personnel will handle any interaction with the individuals involved.
  • Activate registered cell phones** to receive campus emergency notifications that may be sent through the AlertSU system. Standby for periodic updates.

** The university emergency alert system, AlertSU, will be used to notify you of critical life safety issues on campus. Go to https://stanfordyou.stanford.edu (students use https://axess.stanford.edu/) and make sure your personal contact information is registered with AlertSU. For more information about the AlertSU system, please visit http://alertsu.stanford.edu.

If a civil disturbance develops within the community, but is not in the immediate vicinity of Stanford

  • Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) or Public Safety will contact the Department Operations Center (DOC) representatives in each school or department with relevant information as it becomes available. Information will include the areas affected, road closures, and the severity of the situation. The DOCs will inform their local community members, as appropriate.
  • If you are told that a disturbance has escalated and public safety has become an issue, students, faculty, and staff may be asked to leave the campus
  • Follow the instructions given to you by your supervisor, or the Response Team member for your area
  • Do not spread rumors

If instructed to leave campus

  • Carpool/Vanpool members:  Contact your primary carpool or vanpool member(s) immediately
  • Drive carefully. Extra caution is required any time you are excited, worried, or distracted by an emergency.
  • Watch for bicycles, pedestrians, and emergency vehicles
  • Expect traffic back-ups and delays
  • Be patient
  • Follow traffic directions from Public Safety or other safety officials
  • If normal exits are blocked, you will be directed to an alternate route
  • Traffic signals might not be working, use 4-way stop signs traffic rules
  • If you are in doubt about whether to report back to campus, call your department hotline, phone tree contact, or supervisor
  • For campus emergency information:
  • For area information, follow reports on “Emergency Alert System” radio stations (e.g., KCBS 740 AM) and television