Free Speech Movement

In 1964 and 1965, a group of UC Berkeley students launched a large–scale and long–term protest against unfair campus regulations. UC Berkeley, like other public universities in California, limited students’ freedom of speech and participation in political activities both on and off campus. As a result, thousands of students, faculty, staff, and members of the community participated in a variety of demonstrations, marches, rallies, and sit–ins. The campus administration initially tried to suppress the protests through arrests, suspensions, and violent actions. However, the Board of Regents eventually hired a new acting chancellor that addressed the movement’s demands by allowing free speech and opening up political activities on campus to all students. The Free Speech Movement (FSM) became the first student protest of its kind in the U.S., as well as led to further student activism and participation in the New Left, Civil Rights Movement, and Anti–Vietnam War Movement of the Sixties. Delegates will be expected to propose innovative and effective solutions to resolve the conflict between students and Berkeley administration. The delegates do not necessarily need to follow the historical course of events, and arcs exploring the success of school administration’s efforts are possible. Who will retell the victor’s story of this revolutionary event–students, the school administration or maybe neither? What will the legacy of UC Berkeley become? It is up to the delegates to shape this pivotal moment in history.


Han Tseng

Chair

Dear delegates,

I am Han Tseng, a rising sophomore at UC Berkeley from Hsinchu, Taiwan, and it is my utmost honor to serve as your Chair this year. I major in Political Economy—where I enjoy studying the combinations of business and economics plus international relations, law, and politics, as well as applying them to real–world challenges and situations. Ever since beginning my MUN career back in seventh grade, I have actively participated as a delegate, chair, and secretariat for seven years and attended twenty–three conferences—with sixteen of those as a student officer.

UC Berkeley is the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, and as students on campus, we often walk past political tables on Sproul Plaza, observe protests on the “Mario Savio Steps,” and visit the Free Speech Movement Cafe—all of which are places where the movement took place or created to commemorate it. Sixty years later, a variety of issues are frequently discussed both in and out of the classroom, and many more movements organized by college students have created political and social impacts across the world.

In my spare time outside of MUN and academics, I enjoy traveling to remote corners of the world, tasting world cuisines, and capturing remarkable moments through photography. I hope you all will enjoy this year’s conference, and I look forward to meeting everyone in November 2022!

Sincerely,
Han Tseng
Chair, Free Speech Movement

Eva Michela Polovina

Crisis Director

Hello everyone,

I am excited to welcome you to the committee “Berkeley Free Speech movement.” As your crisis director, I am very excited for you to learn more about the fascinating history of our university and the role it played in shaping history. Even though I am only a freshman (sophomore at the time of the conference), Berkeley already feels like a home to me. It is such a privilege and honor to attend a university whose students shaped history. This tenacious spirit is also seen in Berkeley students today. Berkeley students passionately advocate for what they believe in and put all of their efforts to make a change in their communities.

Let me tell you a bit about myself. As a pre–law student, I took the obvious path and decided to major in Legal Studies. However, trying not to be a typical pre–law student, I am intending to major in psychology, too. In my free time, I overshare the pictures of my grumpy cat, overspend on shopping and take too many pictures of the campus (especially at sunset). Since my favourite band is the Beatles, I have a deep appreciation for the 60s. I look forward to taking a deep dive into the 60s history and exploring what being a Berkeley student in 1964 was like! Feel free to reach out to me about anything, whether you want to talk about your favorite Beatle, why cats are superior to dogs or you want to learn more about the committee topic.

Best of luck,
Eva Michela Polovina
Crisis Director, Free Speech Movement