Campus Free Expression Policy: Use of University Grounds, Buildings, and Facilities

Relevant Excerpt

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States assures that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,” Western acknowledges the rights of its faculty, staff, students, its constituents (together the “Western Community”), and members of the public to engage in free speech and peaceful assembly. The purpose of this policy is to advise the Western Community and members of the public of the procedures and standards of conduct that must be observed by while availing themselves of the use of university campus and facilities in the exercise of those rights.

The primary use of Western’s property and facilities is for activities that are directly related to Western’s educational mission and purpose, including teaching, research, preparation of scholarly material, student activities, as well as campus support operations. Consistent with the Constitution and applicable law, Western may impose reasonable and content neutral time, place, and manner restrictions on the use of its property and facilities and restrict or limit use that disrupts or interferes with academic mission, business operations, or regular functions of the university. Western also prohibits unlawful activity that endangers the safety of the campus community, university property or facilities. This policy both facilitates free expression and exchange of ideas and protects the institution.

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 For purposes of engaging in free expression activities, Western will provide its students, faculty, staff, other members of the Western Community, and the public access to all public and open outdoor areas on Western’s campus on a non-discriminatory, content-neutral basis, with the understanding that activities held or reserved by the Western Community shall have priority over the activities of other users. Western will not designate any area as a free speech zone or otherwise limit free expression to a predetermined and designated area of campus. Generally accessible outdoor areas on the campuses shall be available to members of the university community for free expression in accordance with campus policies authorized by this section.

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Distribution of free literature is permitted outside buildings, provided that such distribution does not disrupt or interfere with normal or previously scheduled activities of a particular place or building, and does not impede ingress and egress to and from campus buildings and pedestrian or vehicular traffic on campus walkways, sidewalks, and streets