Speech, Expression, Assembly
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Governing Policies
Freedom of Speech, Expression, and Assembly
The freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly are fundamental rights of all persons and are central to the mission of the College. Students, Faculty/Staff members have the right to assemble, to speak, to attempt to attract the attention of others, and have corresponding rights to hear the speech of others; when they choose to listen, and to ignore the speech of others when they choose not to listen.
Students, faculty and staff members are free to express their views, individually or in organized groups, orally or in writing or by other symbols; on any topic in all parts of the campus, subject only to rules necessary to preserve the equal rights of others and the other functions of the College. Teaching and other official functions of the College will have priority in allocating the use of space on campus.
Except as expressly authorized below under Prohibited Expression, the College will not discriminate on the basis of the political, religious, philosophical, ideological or academic viewpoint expressed by any person, either in the enforcement and administration of these rules or otherwise.
Scope of this Section and Related Provisions
This section concerns the protection and regulation of speech, expression, and assembly of Students and faculty/staff members who are not part of the teaching or other official functions of the College, are not otherwise sponsored by the College or any academic or administrative unit, and are not submitted for academic credit.
This section also addresses the regulation of certain speech that is part of the teaching or other official functions of the College. This entire section applies to speech by academic and administrative units, and speech that is submitted for academic credit; in outdoor locations on the campus. The Vice President for Student Affairs or designee will carry out the duties designated in this section and work directly with College persons or organizations and off-campus persons and organizations to assist in ensuring their freedom of speech, expression, and assembly as authorized under this section.
The Vice President for Student Affairs or designee’s office administers and schedules outdoor signs, tables, exhibits, public assemblies, and amplified sound; even for students, faculty/staff members, and administrative and academic units. Scheduling through a single office is necessary to avoid conflicts.
Any program or event sponsored by an academic or administrative unit of the College will have priority in the use of space and facilities over any speech, expression, and assembly that is not sponsored by an academic or administrative unit, except that programs or events sponsored by an academic or administrative unit will not have priority in the use of weekday amplified sound areas defined in this section. This section does not limit other existing authority of College officials to authorize programs and events sponsored by an academic or administrative unit not provided for in this section.
Additional rules concerning free speech and academic freedom of faculty members are found in the Tarrant County College Board Policy Manual.
General Definitions - Categories of Speakers
As used in this section:
“Academic or Administrative Unit” means any office or department of the College;
“Faculty/Staff Member” includes any person who is employed by the College;
“Off-Campus Person or Organization” means any person, organization or business that is not an academic or administrative unit, a registered student organization or faculty/staff organization, student or faculty/staff member;
“College Person or Organization” includes academic and administrative units, a registered student organization or faculty/staff organization, student or faculty/staff member.
“Registered Student Organization or Faculty/Staff Organization” includes a registered student organization, a faculty/staff organization, and any unit or subdivision thereof;
“Student” means a person who is currently enrolled in the College, or who is accepted for admission or readmission to the College, or who has been enrolled at the College in a prior semester or summer session and is eligible to continue enrollment in the semester or summer session that immediately follows, or who is attending an educational program sponsored by the College while that person is on campus; and
“Event” means something that occurs in a certain place during a particular interval of time; events include but are not limited to guest speakers, exhibits, tables, distribution of literature, signs, and public assemblies.
Other General Definitions
“Amplified Sound” means sound where volume is increased by any electric, electronic, mechanical or motor-powered means. Shouting, group chanting and acoustic musical instruments are exempt from this rule and are not subject to the special rules on amplified sound but are subject to general rules on disruption.
“Room or Space” includes any room or space, indoors or outdoors, owned or controlled by the College.
“Weekday” means Monday through Friday, except holidays and days on which regularly scheduled classes are suspended due to emergency situations.
“Day” means calendar day, except holidays and days on which regularly-scheduled classes are suspended due to emergency situations.