Berkeley offers counseling, raises security ahead of conservative speech

The University of California, Berkeley, is rolling out major security preparations — and offering counseling services to students and staff — ahead of conservative commentator Ben Shapiro’s speech at the school on Thursday.

“We are deeply concerned about the impact some speakers may have on individuals’ sense of safety and belonging. No one should be made to feel threatened or harassed simply because of who they are or for what they believe. For that reason, the following support services are being offered and encouraged,” the university said in a memo to students and faculty this week. 

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The memo went on to list various measures it’s implementing in the lead-up to Shapiro’s appearance, including building closures and a closed perimeter, counseling services and a visible police presence.

Shapiro slammed the notion students and staff would require counseling after his speech in an interview with HLN this week. 

“If you feel you need counseling because of my speech, you probably did need some sort of psychiatric help before that,” he said.  

Berkeley faced backlash after it agreed in July to let Shapiro speak on campus in September. 

However, this will not be the first time Shapiro has addressed students at the school. 

He delivered a speech in April of 2016 and was asked back by the Berkeley College Republicans and the Young America’s Foundation.

Unlike his first visit, which did not garner attention, police are not taking any chances with likely protests this time around. 

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on security resources ahead of the event, according to The Los Angeles Times.

Authorities will set up a mile-and-a-half-long perimeter around six campus buildings and shut off access to the school’s central hub, Sproul Plaza. 

Berkeley’s City Council even voted to lift a 20-year ban on police using pepper spray ahead of the speech. 

Shapiro is the latest in a series of conservative speakers slated to speak on campus. 

Violent protests erupted last February when right-wing firebrand Milo Yiannopoulos spoke, causing $100,000 worth of damage to the school, according to CNN. 

Yiannopoulos said he plans to be at the university in the coming weeks for “Free Speech Month,” which would include President Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon and right-wing commentator Anne Coulter. 

Trump supporters and counterprotesters clashed on the university’s campus in August, resulting in several arrests.