Policy on Student Demonstrations and Expressive Activity

Relevant Excerpt

When selecting a location for any Expressive Activity, groups should consider such factors as the number of people involved in the activity, how much space will be required, and the anticipated time and duration of the activity.

1. Protests, Demonstrations, Vigils, Installations, Flags
   1. In order to promote the College community's engagement in critical discourse and deliberation in an effective, responsible and respectful manner, the College allows for Protests, Demonstrations, Vigils, Installations or Flags in the common, publicly accessible areas of the College. Students should utilize Hartman Green, Klauder-Appel Walkway (Lux et Lex walkway) or Manning Green (Shadek-Fackenthal Library) as such spaces have been the historical locations for such activity and provide for space as well as visibility.

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Approval of registration requests will be based on the availability of the requested area and stated expected use of the area without regard to the content or viewpoint of the Expressive Activity.

Students wishing to engage in any of the activities noted on College Property must submit a registration request to the Office of Student Engagement for review and  approval during regular business hours Monday through Friday and no later than five (5) business days prior to the Expressive Activity so that proper safety planning can occur and appropriate offices be notified. When a five-day approval process is not possible, the registration process through the Office of Student Engagement is still required (see E. Spontaneous Demonstrations Exception below).

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The following time and duration restrictions apply to expressive activities:

1. Expressive Activity that involves the congregation of individuals (e.g. demonstrations, protests, rallies, vigils) is only allowed from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and is restricted to a two-hour maximum.
2. Expressive Activity is not allowed during times when the College is not in session (e.g. Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and Spring Break).
3. Expressive Activity is not allowed during Reading Days or final exam days.

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Spontaneous Demonstration Exception

Occasionally, events occur that lead to immediate public reaction, and this policy is not designed to limit community members' rights to protest such events. Spontaneous Demonstrations or Protests may be held in appropriate locations without advance notice provided these activities do not otherwise violate this policy.

It is a violation of this policy to claim that a planned event is spontaneous. In deciding whether a Demonstration is spontaneous or planned, the College may consider any relevant evidence, including:

1. whether signs or placards used at the Demonstration were commercially produced,
2. whether participants used amplification equipment,
3. whether security was alerted, or media contacted, substantially in advance of the Demonstration, or
4. whether other circumstances demonstrate advance planning by one or more individuals or organizations.