ES4891 - PUBLIC FORUM

1. Institutional Regulations
   
   The primary function of an institution of higher education is the discovery, improvement, transmission, and dissemination of knowledge by means of research, teaching, discussion, and debate. The College seeks to foster and sustain a forum for the free, civil and orderly exchange of thoughts, ideas, values, and opinions, recognizing that individuals grow and learn when respectively confronted with differing views, alternative ways of thinking and conflicting values. This statement shall provide that, to fulfill this function, the College must strive to ensure the fullest degree of intellectual freedom and free expression allowed under the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
   
   Students and faculty have the freedom to discuss any problem that presents itself, assemble, and engage in spontaneous expressive activity on campus, within the bounds of established principles of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, and subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that are consistent with established first amendment principles. This procedure identifies outdoor areas of campus as public forums, open on the same term to any invited speaker subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions that are consistent with established principles of the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. These regulations shall be applied on a neutral basis without regard to the content or viewpoint of the particular expression involved. This is a companion procedure to ES4890  and ES4860 .
    
2. Designated Areas
   
   All outdoor areas located on the grounds of any DMACC campus or facility are considered public forums, subject to the following parameters:
    
   1. The areas and activities conducted thereon must not block, or in any way interfere with or impede any other person’s entrance to or exit from any building, including building doorways and other entrances and exits, or access through any sidewalk, roadway or doorway on the grounds of any DMACC campus or facility.
   2. The areas and activities conducted thereon must not impede the free flow of any and all student and other pedestrian traffic or any other vehicular traffic. All other persons must have the opportunity to move past those exercising their rights under this policy.
   3. The areas and activities conducted thereon must not unreasonably disturb or disrupt classes or other activities taking place in adjacent buildings or areas.
   4. Members of the campus are allowed to engage in spontaneous expressive activity and to distribute literature.
3. Types of Use
   1. Casual Use
      Casual use means any spontaneous and unorganized use for which there is no prior promotion, solicitation, or purposeful attempt to attract or solicit the public.
      1. Individual students and other persons may use the designated areas for any casual and reasonable use during the times described in Section IV.
      2. Casual users are not permitted to use any electronic sound amplification system or equipment that might disrupt class or other activities.
      3. Casual users may not unreasonably disturb or disrupt persons in adjacent buildings, and such users are expected not to damage or destroy any College property (including grass or shrubbery) or cause any litter. They will be held responsible for the cost of any damages or repairs.
   2. Scheduled Use by Eligible Groups
      DMACC recognized student organizations and other groups or individuals which are eligible to use College facilities may reserve and use the designated areas for public meetings, rallies, teach-ins, convocations, festivals, and other authorized events and activities during the times described in Section IV.
4. Other Restrictions
   1. Hours of Use. Casual use is normally permitted during college business hours.  Use outside of regular business hours must be scheduled with the approval of the appropriate college administrator.
   2. Camping on DMACC property is prohibited.
   3. No device or structure shall be placed or erected upon DMACC property except as approved by DMACC officials in connection with an authorized group. This prohibition does not apply to the distribution of leaflets to individuals nor to the carrying of signs by individuals.
   4. Sound amplification, music and other uses which might disturb or disrupt persons in adjacent buildings and classrooms is prohibited during normal business and class hours.
   5. Commercial solicitation is prohibited. Student organizations may conduct fundraisers to benefit their organizations.
   6. All persons and groups using the designated areas are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner toward all students, College personnel, and College visitors. Users may not approach students or other persons and pressure or force them to take literature, or follow students or other persons to classes or elsewhere on campus.
   7. All persons and groups using College facilities are subject to federal and state laws and DMACC Board Policies and rules applicable to such use.
   8. Failure by a user to comply with the provisions of this procedure may result in denial or revocation of the ability to use the designated area and other disciplinary or legal action.

SA 514 - Student Activities  

Adopted: August 22, 2013
Reviewed: 9/22/22

Revised:
January 1, 2020

May 11, 2022 - Cross referenced to Policy SA513.

May 16, 2022 - Cross referenced to Policy SA514.

September 27, 2022 - Changed wording in IV.1.