Free Speech and Public Assembly on Campus Grounds PDF
The University of North Texas (UNT) recognizes that freedom of expression and public assembly
are fundamental rights of all persons and are essential components of the education process.
These activities promote debate and the sharing of ideas, which are the foundation of educational
institutions.
The responsibility of the University to operate and maintain an effective and efficient institution
of higher education requires regulation of the time, place and manner of assembly, speech, and
other expressive activities on the grounds of the University. In keeping with this responsibility,
students, faculty, staff and visitors are free to exercise the rights to assemble and engage in
expressive activity in a constitutionally-protected manner subject only to the content-neutral
regulations necessary to fulfill the mission and obligations of the University; preserve the rights of
others; coordinate multiple uses of limited space; assure preservation of the campus facilities and
grounds; and assure financial accountability for any damage caused by these activities.
This policy applies to University of North Texas students, employees, organizations, and visitors to campus. Nothing in this policy is intended to prohibit faculty members from maintaining order in the classroom.
The following definitions apply for purposes of this policy only:
  1. Amplified Sound
“Amplified Sound,” in this policy, means sound that is increased or enhanced by any electric,
electronic, or mechanical means. Other sound, specifically individual shouting or group
chanting/singing is subject to general regulations concerning disruption of official University
functions.
  2. Campus Grounds
“Campus Grounds,” in this policy, means all common outdoor areas owned, leased or
controlled by the University that are accessible to all students, employees, and visitors, such
as sidewalks, park-like areas and malls.
  3. “Designated Areas” means outdoor areas of property owned, leased
or controlled by the University that may be reserved by students, employees, and
visitors for expressive activity.
  4. “Employee” means a person currently employed by the University on a fulltime, part-time or hourly basis.
  5. “Expressive Activity” means the verbal or symbolic expression of
an idea, thought or opinion and may include speeches, assembly, marches, parades,
rallies, protests, picketing, distribution of non-commercial literature, circulation of
petitions, graphic or pictorial displays and other similar activities intended to
communicate an idea or opinion. Expressive activity does not include speech that is
likely to incite or produce imminent lawless action, expression that consists of fighting
words or threats of physical harm or expression that is defamatory, obscene or
commercial in nature.
  6. “Literature” means any printed material that does not concern a
commercial transaction and is produced in multiple copies for distribution or
publication to an audience, including but not limited to flyers, handbills, leaflets,
placards, bulletins, newspapers, and magazines, but does not include the North Texas
Daily or official University material.
  7. “Official University Function” means all activities, events
and programs sponsored by an academic or administrative unit of the University.
  8. “Outdoor Structure or Exhibit” means anything built,
constructed or displayed temporarily on campus grounds as part of an expressive
activity, including tents.
  9. “Student” means any person who is currently enrolled and attending the
University of North Texas and, for the purposes of this policy, it also includes student
organizations and student groups.
  10. “University Business Hours” means Sunday through
Saturday 8:00am to 10:00pm.
  11. “Visitor” means a person who is not a student, faculty member or staff
member.
The facilities and campus grounds of the University are intended to be used primarily
for instructional and research programs and administrative activities of the University
and secondarily for programs sponsored and conducted by University academic and
administrative departments or organizations affiliated with those departments,
including registered student organizations and student groups.
Students, employees, and visitors may engage in expressive activity on campus
grounds, including by responding to the expressive activities of others, as set out in
this policy.
Students, employees and visitors who wish to organize parades, marches or rallies in
areas that cross thoroughfares or would stop or slow traffic must notify the Office of
the Dean of Students at least eight business days in advance of the activity in order
to ensure that the proposed route does not substantially interrupt the safe and
orderly movement of traffic or create a safety hazard.
Visitors who plan to engage in expressive activity on campus grounds and have a
reasonable expectation of attracting a crowd of 50 people or more must notify the
Dean of Students Office no fewer than eight business days prior to the activity so
that appropriate measures can be taken to ensure the safety of the university
community and minimize disruption to the learning environment.
Individuals or organizations not directly connected with the University may use
University facilities and campus grounds as permitted by this and the University
Facilities Use Coordination policies, and are responsible for reading and following these
policies, as applicable.
Campus grounds generally are open to students, employees, and visitors for expressive
activity. However, individuals and organizations are encouraged to reserve areas on
campus that are designated for expressive activity. Designated areas may be reserved
on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to the reservation procedures
published by the Dean of Students Office and set out in this policy. Only the individuals
or organizations that reserve a designated space may use the area for expressive
activity during the reserved period. A reservation is required five business days in
advance for use of amplified sound, outdoor structure, and/or when a crowd of 50 or
more people are anticipated.
To allow reasonable access to designated areas, students, employees, and visitors may
reserve locations for a total of fifteen days with no more than five consecutive days in
a four-month period. The Dean of Students Office is responsible for administration of
this policy, including:
  a. identifying locations and establishing times for use as designated areas;
  b. identifying locations and establishing times for use of amplified sound;
  c. managing requests for reservation of campus grounds under this policy;
  d. relocating expressive activities as allowed under this policy;
  e. developing procedures for reserving areas for expressive activity and use of
amplified sound and for registering for parades, marches and rallies;
  f. registering for parades, marches and rallies and
  g. publishing the locations, times, procedures and forms required under this
policy at the beginning of each academic year.
Advance reservation is required before amplified sound may be used on campus
grounds. Students, employees and visitors may use amplified sound on campus
grounds only at the locations and times published by the Dean of Students. Amplified
sound areas may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to the
reservation procedures published by the Dean of Students and this policy.
Amplification in the designated areas:
  a. Cannot exceed 92 decibels on the “A” scale at 50 feet from the source of amplification; and  
  b. Amplification will not be approved for any period during the two weeks preceding
fall and spring graduation dates.  
The following activities are prohibited:
1. Activities that are unlawful or materially and substantially disrupt the normal
operations of the University.
2. Activities that substantially interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic, including the
ingress or egress of University facilities.
3. Activities that substantially interfere with fire protection, law enforcement, or
emergency or medical services.
4. Activities that threaten or endanger the health or safety of any person on University
grounds.
5. Activities that result in damage or destruction of University property. Nothing may be
affixed to or written on University buildings.
6. Activities that constitute disruptive activity, riotous conduct or obscenity as those terms
are defined by federal or state law.
7.Expressive signage, gesturing, wearing symbolic clothing or otherwise protesting
silently is permissible anywhere unless it is a disruptive activity as defined by federal or
state law
8.Open flames on the University campus without the written permission of UNT Risk
Management.
Individuals and organizations engaged in expressive activity on campus may be
required to relocate to other areas by the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean
of Students or, when immediate action is necessary, the University Police
Department, under the following circumstances:
1. the noise generated by the activity disrupts an official University function or
substantially interferes with resident housing life and activities (e.g., the activity is too
close to an academic, administrative or residential building);
2. the location does not safely accommodate the number of participants;
3. the number of individuals participating in or attending the activity creates unsafe
conditions for vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or parking; or blocks the ingress or egress
to buildings, staircases or official university activities;
4. the space has been reserved for an official University function, has been reserved in
accordance with this policy, or a reserved location is needed for an official University
function;
5. the activity creates a health, safety or welfare hazard, such as interfering with fire,
police or emergency services;
6. the activity interferes with the expressive activity of another individual or organization,
such as blocking the audience’s view of a speaker or preventing the audience from
hearing a speaker; or
7. The University reserves the right, as necessary, to impose additional reasonable time,
place, and manner restrictions as circumstances arise.
1. Students and employees may invite individuals to the University to speak in accordance
with this policy. The University may not consider the political, religious, philosophical,
ideological or academic viewpoint, or any potential controversy an invited-speaker may
generate in reviewing the engagement or in assessing a fee to use campus facilities.
2. When reviewing an invitation or assessing a fee, the University will consider the criteria:
  a. Proposed venue and size of the expected crowd;  
  b. Anticipated needs for campus security;  
  c. Any other accommodations the University deems necessary for the speaker; and  
  d. Relevant history of compliance or noncompliance with University policies by the
speaker or the requestor. 
3. Use of UNT facilities must follow Facilities Use Coordination and other applicable
University policies and procedures.
2. Literature distributed under this policy by a student, employee, or visitor cannot contain any University trademarks without the express written consent of the University.
Expressive activities do not include commercial speech for purposes of this policy.
Outdoor exhibits and structures may be placed only in designated areas, except that
individuals may place displays on easel-type supports on campus grounds that are
open and accessible for expressive activity. Outdoor exhibits and structures are
subject to the following limitations:
  a. exhibits and structures may not exceed twenty-five feet in length or width or
fifteen feet in height,  
  b. exhibits and structures may not extend into or onto any sidewalks or walkways in
such a way as to interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic or otherwise present
an unreasonable threat to public safety,  
  c. the interior of three-dimensional structures or exhibits must be fully visible from
at least one side of the exhibit or structure, and no exhibit or structure may
provide opportunity for individuals to be completely secluded from view.  
Individuals setting up an outdoor exhibit or structure are responsible for cleanup of
the area surrounding the exhibit or structure and shall return it to its original condition
at the completion of the expressive activity. Individuals involved in the setup of an
outdoor exhibit or structure shall not damage UNT property or grounds, and are
responsible for returning the area surrounding the exhibit or structure to its original
condition.
Exhibits may only be set up in accordance with this policy and University policy
11.003. The Dean of Students office must be contacted at least eight business days
prior to the proposed activity involving an outdoor exhibit or structure.
Exception to the dimension limitations may be granted by the Dean of Students upon
a showing by the individual or organization seeking the exception that the exhibit will
not present a safety hazard and will not interfere with pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
Proof of insurance to cover injury or damage to persons or property does not entitle
the individual or organization to an exception to the dimension limitations. Requests
for exception to the outdoor exhibit dimension limitations must be made at least eight
business days in advance of the desired display date.
1. Individuals who disagree with a decision regarding their use of campus grounds for
expressive activity or who reasonably believe a student, employee or visitor has
violated this policy may request review by the Vice President for Student Affairs. The
request for review must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on the third business day after
notice of the decision that is being challenged or within a reasonable time after the
person becomes aware of a possible policy violation.
2. The request must be submitted in writing and provide:
  a. the specific reason(s) the individual or organization disagrees with the decision or
believes a policy violation has occurred, as applicable; and
  b. all information the individual or organization believes will assist the Vice President
for Student Affairs in reaching a determination on the matter.
3. The Vice President for Student Affairs will issue a written decision within a reasonable
time, usually within three (3) business days of receipt of a request. The Vice President’s
decision is final.
Students and employees who unduly interfere with expressive activities of others on campus are subject to disciplinary action under the UNT Code of Student Conduct or applicable faculty and staff discipline policies.
The University will make this policy available by:
1. publication on the University website and academic catalogs; and
2. providing the policy to all new students and employees during orientation programs
and through the University policy manual.
  Request to Reserve Designated Areas
. Request to Reserve Designated Areas for Parades, Marches and Rallies
Texas Education Code 51.9315
UNT Policy 04.032, Solicitation
UNT Policy 05.015 Ethics and Standards of Conduct
UNT Policy 05.033 Staff Employee Discipline and Involuntary Termination
UNT Policy 06.025 Faculty Misconduct and Discipline
UNT Policy 07.012, Code of Student Conduct
UNT Policy 07.029, Prohibition of Camping on University Property
UNT Policy 11.001, Facilities Use Coordination
UNT Policy 12.003, Protection of Buildings and Grounds
Approved: 11/3/2009
Effective:11/03/2009
Revised: 05/27/2020