Governed by Los Rios Regulation R-1413
1.0 General
1.1 College/District property shall be used only in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws and shall not be used for any unlawful activity.
1.2 All persons on College/District property are required to abide by College/District policies and shall identify themselves upon request to College/District officials acting in the performance of their duties. Violation of College/District policies may subject a person to possible legal penalties or may result in College/District sanctions. If the person is a student, faculty member, or staff member of the College/District, that person may also be subject to College/District disciplinary action.
1.3 Public expression in the form of freedom of speech and advocacy may be exercised on College/District property at such times and places and in such a manner as is compatible with the use of the property, and that: (a) assures orderly conduct; (b) avoids disruption or interference with College/District operations; (c) avoids disruption or interference with the ability of the College/District to carry out their responsibilities as educational institutions; (d) protects the rights of all individuals who use College/District property; (e) protects persons against practices that would make them involuntary audiences; and (f) assures the safety of all members of the College/District community.
2.0 Use of Outdoor Areas Open to the Public Generally
2.1 On College/District outdoor areas open to the public generally, all persons or organizations may exercise their constitutionally protected rights of free expression, speech, assembly, and worship, and meet and distribute and sell noncommercial literature incidental to the exercise of these freedoms. Such activities shall be compatible with use and maintenance of the area and the free flow of persons and traffic, and shall not interfere with or disrupt the normal activities of the College/District property. Interference with College/District property entrances or exits is strictly prohibited. [At American River College, the designated public areas are: The Rose Marks Quad, the Library Quad, and the Bookstore Quad. Map]
2.2 Any individual or group wishing to engage in speech activities is requested to notify the appropriate College or District Facilities Management department as far in advance of the activity as possible. If advance notice has not been made, notice of arrival (including location of activity) is required. Notice of arrival should be made at the campus Facilities Management department as soon as practical.
2.2.1 The Facilities Management department should notify campus police, custodial department or other appropriate college departments of any non-student or non-College organization speech activities when possible.
2.3 Organizations/individuals are encouraged to reserve space in advance. Locations are filled on a first come, first choice basis. A reservation increases the chance of obtaining a particular location. Locations should be chosen to minimize interference with the free speech rights of others. Conflicts in location shall be addressed to the facilities management department.
2.3.1 Requests for reservation of College/District outdoor areas open to the public generally are reviewed and acted upon by Facilities Management departments for the respective College or District property. A reservation request may be denied if the request is not in accordance with College/District regulations/policies. A reservation request shall be denied if the circumstances are such that the event will present a clear and present danger to the orderly operation of a College or the District. In case of a denial of or any conflict of property use, the reservation applicant may appeal to President. The President will render a decision on the appeal within seven (7) calendar days.
3.0 Use of All Other Property and Facilities
3.1 Persons or organizations (including those not affiliated with the District or a College) shall be eligible to use College/District facilities (classrooms, athletic fields, etc.) as set forth in Regulations R-1411 [Use of Facilities] and 1412 [Fees for Use of Facilities].
4.0 Religious or Political Activities
4.1 As a state instrumentality, the College/Districts must remain neutral on religious and political matters. The College/Districts cannot sponsor or fund religious or political activities, except when authorized by the Board of Trustees.
4.2 Religious or political authorized student organizations shall have access to College/District property on the same basis as all other authorized campus organizations. See Policies P-2311 [Student Associations] and P-2312 [Student Organizations and Activities].
4.2.1 Authorized student organizations may sponsor and fund religious or political activities provided no College/District funds are used to underwrite these activities.
4.3 The name, insignia, seal, or address of the College/Districts or any of their offices or units shall not be used for or in connection with religious or political purposes or activities except as consistent with College/District regulations.
4.3.1 In correspondence, statements, or other material relating to religious or political activities or issues, the College/District title of a faculty or staff member shall be used only for identification. If such identification might reasonably be construed as implying the support, endorsement, or opposition of the District or a College with regard to any religious or political activity or issue, the identification shall be accompanied by an explicit statement that the individual is speaking for himself or herself and not as a representative of the College/District or any of their offices or units.
4.4 Funds: To avoid District or College endorsement of a political candidate, the payment of District or College-controlled funds is prohibited to individuals who have declared their intention to run for elective office at the time a contract is made. This prohibition covers contracting for payment of fees, honoraria, or travel expenses.
4.4.1 This prohibition does not extend to members of the District Board of Trustees who have declared their intention to run for election as members of the Board of Trustees or other elective office. Such Board members may continue to receive their customary compensation, reimbursement expenses, and other fees, compensation, or money due to them for the performance of their duties as elected members of the Board of Trustees. Section 4.4 shall apply in all other respects.
4.5 Faculty, Students and Staff. The College/Districts recognize, support, and shall not abridge the constitutional rights of faculty, students, and staff to participate, either as individuals or as members of groups, in the political process of supporting candidates for public office or any other political activity. The policies above in no way constitute prohibitions on the right of any individual or group in the College/District community to express political views.
5.0 Amplified Sound Permit
5.1 The following regulations have been developed to assure that sound at events held on a College or District property is maintained at a reasonable level and is not disruptive to College/District activities or communities. A permit must be approved by the facilities management department for outdoor use of amplified sound. Permits will not be approved if the sound may interfere with classes, the orderly administration of the College/District, or reasonably disturb College or District operations, or community residents.
5.2 The level of sound must be limited to reach only the immediate audience. Speakers must be positioned carefully in order to prevent sound from disturbing persons not in the immediate area. Atmospheric conditions, the surrounding terrain and the buildings can greatly influence the effect of sound. The set-up of speakers should be carefully checked before each event and monitored occasionally during the event by the permit holder. Sound checks must be conducted only during the hours sound is allowed.
5.3 Outdoor use of sound is generally permitted in areas designated by each College and in accordance with the conditions enumerated; all other areas by exception only. A list of the designated areas for each College shall be available at the facilities management department.
Institutions of higher educations should adhere to First Amendment principles because academic freedom is a bedrock of education in a free society.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution protects speech no matter how offensive its content.Restricting the speech of one group or individual jeopardizes everyone’s rights because the same laws or regulations used to silence bigots can be used to silence you.
Defending First Amendment rights for the enemies of civil liberties and civil rights means defending it for you and me
Our roles as an institution of higher education include facilitating learning through open debate and study and enlightening people. All views are entitled to be heard, explored, supported or refuted.
When hate is out in the open, people can see the problem and can organize effectively to counter bad attitudes, possibly change them, and forge solidarity against the forces of intolerance.
Bigoted speech is symptomatic of a huge problem in our country; it is not the problem itself. It is unrealistic to think that punishing speech is going to rid our college of the attitudes that gave rise to the speech in the first place.
The best way to combat hate speech on campus is through an educational approach that includes counter-speech, workshops on bigotry and its role in American and world history, and creation of an environment that fosters tolerance and mutual respect among members of the campus community, an environment in which all students can exercise their right to participate fully in campus life without being discriminated against.
*Taken from “Hate Speech on Campus,” provided by the American Civil Liberties Union