Faculty Rights Tip: Faculty Have the Right to Not Talk to Campus Police

Last week, students at many CSU campuses held actions to protest the CSU’s investments in war, in AI, and on the CSU Northridge campus, to protest against the racist criminalization of students of color by campus police. Faculty, staff and students admirably worked together at CSUN so that the student rally would be police-free. Faculty and students trained in de-escalation, together with the Harmony Keepers, student affairs professionals, and other volunteers, who were on duty to maintain safety, showing us all that there are police-free and weapons-free ways to nurture public safety on our campuses. As our campuses are filled with engaged students who dream of a liberated and socially just People’s University, it is important that faculty know our rights as unionized workers and as members of our campus communities. 

In addition to the preamble of our 2022-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) which guarantees our academic freedom, faculty enjoy additional protections specifically relating to our interactions with campus police.  

In our last round of bargaining, CFA secured language in the CBA which begins to limit police power on our campuses. This language exists in Article 37, Health and Safety precisely because CFA recognizes police presence on our campuses as a potential threat to the health and safety of communities of color, queer and trans people, and women/femmes. 

As a unionized faculty member, you have the right to refuse to talk to campus police. Article 37.10 secures this right for us, and reads as follows:  

37.10   All people have constitutional rights when it comes to interactions with police officers. CSU employees have those same rights when it comes to interactions with University Police. When University Police seek to interview a CFA represented employee, the employee has no obligation to participate. If, however, the employee chooses to participate, the employee may request to be accompanied by a union representative.  If the request for a union representative is denied, the employee has no obligation to participate. Nothing in this provision shall limit the rights of employees to be represented by an attorney when interacting with University Police. 

If, for example, you find yourself on campus at a demonstration or teach-in, and campus police ask to speak with you, perhaps to find out who or what you know about the protest happening, or to inquire about a student they are targeting (as they have done at CSUN), you have no obligation to speak with police.  

If you agree to speak with police, we urge you to request a union representative to be present.  

Protect yourself and each other, and be aware of your Article 37.10 rights to not speak with campus cops! 

Want to learn more? Become active with your local CFA chapter Faculty Rights team. Find your representative here.  

Browse the faculty contract here. 

See an archive of Faculty Rights Tips. 

If you have questions about a faculty rights tip or would like to suggest a tip, please write us with the subject line “Faculty Rights Tip.”