The university has a special interest in promoting the free exchange of ideas, including those that promote vigorous debate. Therefore, when inviting speakers, especially those who are likely to produce controversy, plans must be developed to ensure that the speaker is accorded the right to express her or his views, even if members of the audience disagree with the speaker or find the views offensive. Such plans should also provide opportunities for individuals and groups who disagree with the speaker to register their opposition. In no case may there be physical violence or threats of force, violence, or intimidation.

The rights of the dissenter(s) should be respected, as much as the rights of the speaker. However, the speaker is entitled to communicate her or his message to the audience during her or his allotted time, and the audience is entitled to hear the message and see the speaker during that time. The dissenter(s) must not substantially interfere with the speaker's ability to communicate or the audience's ability to hear and see the speaker.

Before the Event

1. If possible, to ensure an exchange of ideas, groups most likely to be offended by the views of the speaker should be informed of the event by the student or student organization sponsoring the event prior to issuing the invitation to the speaker. Opposing groups may want to stage an event of their own in order to provide countering information or views. This is a recommendation only and should not be interpreted as a restriction on speakers or topics.

2. Guidelines for the event must be in place. This includes, but is not limited to, assigning individuals to be responsible for various aspects of the event and providing adequate staff or student monitors. (Student Activities, OPERS, Student Media, or the University Events Office can assist students in planning events.) University policies must be followed.

3. If it is anticipated that there may be some sort of disruption, University Police and other campus officials are to be notified. This will enable them to plan the campus response and to assign responsibility for carrying out this response.

Permitted:

1. Letters to the newspaper, groups, individuals, etc.

2. Picketing and literature - picketing in an orderly way or distributing literature outside the meeting is acceptable unless it impedes access to the building or the meeting, or impedes pedestrian or vehicular traffic outside the building. Distributing literature inside an open meeting is acceptable before the meeting is called to order and after the meeting is adjourned as long as it does not interfere with ingress or egress, the speaker's right to communicate, or the audience's right to hear and see the speaker.

3. Noise - clapping, heckling, or responding vocally to the speaker spontaneously and temporarily, inside or outside the meeting is generally acceptable. However, any behavior which has the effect of interrupting the speaker's ability to present the speaker's views will not be tolerated. When such interruptions do not cease when the chair/convener or appropriate university official requests that such interruptions cease, the failure to cease is a student conduct violation, and will be processed pursuant to Section 102.16.

Not Permitted:

1. Disruption, including using force or violence - using force or violence, such as defacing a sign or assaulting a speaker or member of the audience, is never permitted. The content of the speech, even parts deemed defamatory or insulting, does not entitle any member of the audience to engage in disruption, force, or violence. When untruthful and defamatory speech may give rise to civil liability, it is neither a justification nor an excuse for disruption, force, or violence, and may not be considered as a mitigating factor in any subsequent proceeding against offenders. Nor are racial insults or other "fighting words" a valid ground for disruption or physical attack, particularly from a voluntary audience that was invited but in no way compelled to be present.

2. If speech advocates immediate and serious illegal action and there is a real possibility of danger and/or the development of an uncontrollable situation, or if previously established time, place, and manner guidelines are not being followed, appropriate action, such as asking for order, removing the offenders, or closing down the event, will be taken by an authorized university official or law enforcement officer.

Sanctions:

Sanctions for violation of these guidelines may range from expulsion from the meeting to campus disciplinary action, to arrest, or other legal action.