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Student Activism Support
Student Activism Support (SAS) is part of UB’s commitment to supporting free expression and fostering a culture of civic engagement on campus.
The Student Activism Support (SAS) Committee is open to students, staff, and faculty who want to support civic learning, dialogue, and engagement at the University at Buffalo. SAS helps ensure that students who wish to participate in civic life, including activism, public discourse, and peaceful demonstrations, have access to information, resources, and guidance.
Within SAS, the Freedom of Assembly Support Team (FAST) focuses on supporting students who want to engage in activism and other forms of civic expression. FAST can provide information about relevant university policies, offer material support for free expression activities, and serve as a liaison between students and university departments.
The First Amendment guarantees the rights to free speech, peaceful assembly, and petitioning the government. As a public institution, the University at Buffalo is bound by the Constitution to uphold these freedoms. Student activism has long been a catalyst for social change, and SAS works to ensure UB students can exercise their constitutional rights while feeling informed, supported, and safe.
Below are links to policies and resources that may be helpful for students interested in activism or civic expression. For additional support, SAS can be reached at studentactivismsupport@buffalo.edu.
Freedom of Assembly Support Team (FAST)
The Freedom of Assembly Support Team (FAST) is a group of UB staff and faculty dedicated to supporting students who engage in activism, civic expression, and public dialogue on campus. FAST takes a holistic approach to civic engagement, focusing on empathic listening, student empowerment, and education to help students participate in activism safely and effectively.
FAST Liaisons serve at demonstrations, protests, vigils, and other public gatherings, helping students navigate university policies, access materials for civic expression, and connect with relevant campus offices. The team prioritizes safety, peaceful assembly, and conflict de-escalation, helping maintain a respectful environment where diverse viewpoints can be expressed.
FAST also promotes nonpartisan civic engagement and content-neutral dialogue, ensuring students have opportunities to participate in civic life, discuss complex issues, and build skills as engaged democratic citizens.
To connect with a FAST Liaison or request support, please contact studentactivismsupport@buffalo.edu.
Community and Civic Engagement team members can loan out LED candles for vigils. Please reach out to studentactivismsupport@buffalo.edu if you would like to borrow our candles for your event.
Chalking is permitted only on horizontal sidewalk surfaces in open, outdoor areas. To help maintain clean and welcoming entrances, chalking on sidewalks and walkways should take place at least 20 feet away from building entrances, doorways, loading docks, and accessible ramps. (This is to prevent tracking the chalk on the floors in the buildings.)
Allowing students to paint the bull outside the Student Union was intended as a fun, creative way for them to express themselves, advertise events or show school pride, but it also has evolved into a public platform for free expression where students with contrasting opinions on issues convey their views.
Anyone from the UB community is allowed to paint the bull between sundown and sunup. Once the sun rises, the bull cannot be painted again until sundown. First to arrive at the bull gets the right to paint it.
There will be times when students, faculty and staff – or the university – may not agree with the message on the statue. Offensive messages are often protected by the First Amendment, and their display would be legally protected until the next individual or group paints a new message under the Paint A Bull rules. However, the university does retain authority to remove or repaint content that is threatening, harassing or obscene. Anyone who feels that they are being discriminated against should contact the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, 406 Capen Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260; Tel. (716) 645-2266; email equity@buffalo.edu.
For more information about Paint A Bull, visit the Student Union website.
For more services and opportunities like this:
Student Life
University at Buffalo
150 Student Union, North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260
Email: Contact form
Phone: 716-645-6469