Students may have seen or been stopped by petition circulators on campus, asking passersby questions like, “Are you registered to vote?” 

These circulators are meant to gather signatures for ballots in favor of certain laws and legislation to be passed. Many of them are paid, and can get paid per signature. 

Robert Rivera, a Fresno State student senator, says he has witnessed and experienced several negative interactions with the circulators on campus. 

“They’ll approach you, if you say no, they’ll flag you down and make a big deal out of it,” Rivera said. “They’ll flail their arms, ‘Oh, come on, why not.’” 

Rivera interacts with them on a semi-frequent basis, as he occasionally helps run the Associated Students, Inc. booth at University Row, right across from where the circulators are commonly seen. 

Circulators can work under one or many sponsors and/or organizations. Those who are seen on campus are often not the same people every time, and may not all work directly with one another. Many of the circulators are paid, and they have a legal right to be on campus, since it is a free-speech campus.

However, some students said they have felt harassed at times due to their methods of engagement with the student body. 

The university and the university police department have both provided similar statements to The Collegian regarding these behaviors. Both parties say that individuals who do not abide by the university’s standards on free expression should be reported through the proper channels. 

“Students who feel uncomfortable or believe someone’s conduct may cross the line from lawful expression into harassment or obstruction can use Fresno State’s  Concern and Action Guide to identify appropriate campus resources and reporting options,” they said.

Both parties also state that Fresno State recognizes that individuals and groups are permitted to lawful expressive activities on campus within the university’s “Time, Place and Manner of Free Expression” policy.

“At the same time, members of our campus community should feel comfortable navigating campus spaces without feeling pressured or harassed,” the statements said.

The Collegian has witnessed the circulators block students’ paths, follow students after declining interest, make unwanted flirtatious comments toward women and verbally insult students who decline interest or oppose the circulators. 

On one occasion, Rivera said he was telling students at the circulators’ table that the circulators get paid for what they do. Angered by this, Rivera said they shot back with insults and explicit language toward Rivera and his girlfriend, and made offensive comments about her appearance. 

From that moment on, Rivera’s stance was solidified against them. 

“If I’m just a regular student telling students, ‘Hey, don’t sign that, they’re making money off of you,’ and that’s how they respond?” Rivera said. 

According to Rivera, Fresno State Police and Amy Allen, associate dean of Student Involvement, are “very aware” of the circulators’ conduct on campus. To his knowledge, Fresno State Police get calls about them almost every day.

Rivera was encouraged to contact them if any additional activity took place. 

Additionally, he runs an Instagram account, @antipetitiontaskforce, in which he has gathered submissions from students who have felt uncomfortable by the circulators’ methods on campus. 

His goal with this account is to eventually see them removed from campus.

People have witnessed other issues with the circulators around the state, too. A video on social media shows a table of circulators in San Francisco giving out $5 to each person who signs with or without their real name and address. 

According to a 2010 California state press release, “it is illegal under state law for a circulator to give you cash or other valuable items in exchange for your signature on an initiative petition.”

The Collegian reached out to circulators on campus, but they refused to comment.

A Freedom of Information Act request was filed to the Fresno State Police Department regarding police reports and calls about the circulators, and it is currently pending.