In developing and administering this policy, the College recognizes the freedoms guaranteed by the United States and Michigan constitutions, including freedom of speech and assembly. The College also recognizes the need to preserve and protect its property, students, guests, and employees, and to ensure the effective operation of educational, business and related activities of the College.
Expressive activities on the College’s campus may be subject to reasonable regulation with regard to the time, place, and manner of the activities. College employees do not consider the content or viewpoint of expressive activities when enforcing this policy, including by restricting students’ expression based on concerns about other person(s)’ negative reaction to the expression. No policy can address every possible activity or situation that may occur on College property, and the College reserves the right to address such situations as circumstances warrant.
This policy does not apply to use of College facilities or grounds for official events sponsored by the College. Expressive activities carried out under this policy are not considered to be a speech made by, on behalf of, or endorsed by the College.
This policy applies on all College campuses. This policy does not apply to use of any area of any College campus by College employees who are acting in the course of their job responsibilities. This policy does not apply to any person or organization desiring to advertise or sell merchandise or services for commercial purposes on campus. Any person or organization desiring to sell or advertise merchandise or services on campus must contact the Vice President of Community Outreach & Advancement.
“Expressive Activity” is defined as the carrying or displaying of signs or placards, leafleting, campaigning, marches, rallies, parades, demonstrations, protests, assemblies, speeches, circulation of petitions, and/or any public demonstration on College grounds.
General Access
Registered students and student groups may use, without prior notification or permission, any publicly accessible outdoor area of any College campus except parking lots, garages, and driveways. Federal, state, and local laws are enforced, as applicable. The use of walkways or other common areas may not block the free passage of others nor impede the regular operation of the College.
Use of the publicly accessible outdoor area may include speaking, non-verbal expression, distributing literature, displaying signage, and circulating petitions. There is no limit to the number of times a month a person or group may access these areas, provided that access is limited to hours when the College is open to the public.
During work and class hours, or if the area is currently in use for an official College event, amplification is restricted if it interferes with College operations or noise ordinances are violated.
Large Groups
Except in the circumstances described below, any person or group whose use of an outdoor area for demonstration, protest, or distribution of literature is expected or reasonably likely to have more than fifty (50) people in attendance shall notify the Vice President of Community Outreach and Advancement, or his/her designee at least two (2) business days before the day of the activity. Notification may be submitted in person at the Community Outreach office or online at midmich.edu/reservations. Notification must include information as to the specific location requested to be used for the event, the estimated expected number of persons, and the name and contact information of at least one person who can be contacted regarding logistics of the event. This contact person must also be attending the event.
Prior notice is to help ensure that there is sufficient space for the large group event, that the large group event does not conflict with any another College event or use, and that sufficient College resources are available for crowd control and security. If such advance notice is not feasible because of circumstances that could not be reasonably anticipated, such as because of very recent or still-unfolding news developments, the person or group must provide the College with as much advance notice as circumstances reasonably permit.
The College may direct groups that exceed 50 individuals to areas that do not interfere with College operations, public safety, the educational process, and unobstructed access to the College for its students, faculty, employees, and occupants.
Reserved Space
In addition to the general right of access to outdoor areas of campus as described above, any registered student or student organization may seek to reserve the use of specific outdoor areas by contacting the Vice President of Community Outreach and Advancement. Requests by a registered student or student organization to reserve such area or space must be made at least 5 business days before the event. Requests are granted unless the event conflicts or interferes with a previously scheduled event or activity or violates College policy.
A student or student organization that has reserved a specific area or space under this policy has priority over any other persons seeking to use the area or space during the scheduled time period. Any decision denying a request is promptly communicated (within 48 hours of receiving the request) in writing to the requester and explains the basis for the denial.
The content of the anticipated speech or other expressive activity does not form the basis for a denial.
Requests to Engage in Expressive Activity
Members of the public who are not registered students or student organizations must receive a permit before engaging in Expressive Activity on any College campus. Requests to schedule Expressive Activity on the College grounds must be made to the Vice President of Community Outreach & Advancement or his/her designee (hereinafter, Vice President). Requests may be submitted in person at the Advancement office or online at midmich.edu/reservations.
Process
Requests must be made in writing to the Vice President during regular business hours at least 48 hours prior to any Expressive Activity on a form supplied by the College. Each request must be in writing and contain the following information:
In order to assure the reasonable conduct of public business, the educational process, unobstructed access to the College for its students, faculty, employees, occupants, and the public, and to maintain public safety and College grounds, the Vice President has been delegated the authority to approve, modify, or deny an application for expressive activity. The Vice President does not take the content of the speech into consideration when approving, modifying, or denying an application. All decisions by the Vice President required under these procedures are made promptly, but no later than 24 hours after receiving the written request.
Appeal
If a person or organization is aggrieved by a decision of the Vice President, an appeal may be taken to the President of the College within three College business days of that decision. The appeal must be in writing, stating the basis therefore, and the relief sought. The President consults with relevant committees in the College’s governance system as appropriate. The Vice President of Community Outreach & Advancement promptly announces the result of the appeal and complies with the decision.
Use of College grounds is subject to the following:
The College reserves the right to stop any activity that substantially interferes with or disrupts the normal activities of the College; interferes with the educational process; or violates any of the conditions covering expressive activity under this policy. Any person who violates this policy may be subject to an order to leave College property. Employees in violation of this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including termination. Students in violation of this policy may be subject to discipline under the applicable Code of Conduct.