Scope
Undergraduate and graduate students
Catalog Number
SACL
007
Purpose
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is committed by tradition and by its defining values to the freedom of speech, thought, inquiry, and artistic expression for all members of its community. The exercise of free speech, including demonstrations, marches, rallies, leafletting, and picketing and equivalent activities ("demonstrations"), has long been recognized as a legitimate form of self-expression in the university community. The University encourages the exercise of free speech, acknowledging that free speech and expression in a university community will sometimes result in exchanges that are heated, controversial, deeply passionate, and even uncomfortable for members of the University community.
The University of Massachusetts is a public institution. Under the U.S. Constitution, certain rights are guaranteed when faculty and staff interact with students. The Constitutional aspects of the university/student relationship are especially implicated in the context of First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom to associate.
All students undergraduate and graduate, have a First Amendment right to demonstrate on university premises. While university policies regarding demonstrations are content-neutral, the University necessarily reserves the right to limit, disallow or disband an event which incites immediate, violent action or represents a clear and present danger to the campus community or if for any reason of time, place, or manner of behavior, the demonstration materially disrupts classwork or other University business, involves a substantial disorder, or invades of the rights of others.
Policy
All students, undergraduate and graduate, have a right to demonstrate on university premises provided, however, that no such demonstration shall be permissible which for any reason of time, place, or type of behavior materially disrupts class work or other university business, or involves substantial disorder or invasion of the rights of others.
Campus buildings are for university business. Any form of demonstration that interferes with university business in office or classroom spaces is a violation of this Code.
Students are prohibited from blocking free entry to or free exit from buildings, interfering with free movement, or presenting obstacles to regular university activities. "Interfering with free movement" is defined as any physical denial or restriction of a person's ability to freely reach or leave a given geographical area, or harassment as defined in the Code of Student Conduct. "Obstacles" are defined as physical devices, bodies, or signs which cause interference with free movement, or sounds which prevent normal aural communication.
There shall be no interference with demonstrations on the grounds of content of speech, except for any speech or demonstration which incites immediate, violent action and represents a clear and present danger to the campus community, which shall be a violation of this Code.
No student shall intentionally and substantially interfere with the freedom of expression of another person on university premises or at university sponsored activities.
Failure to cease any activity in violation of this Code immediately following either written or oral notice by a university official shall also be a violation of this Code.
Any violation of this Code may subject a student to expulsion from the university or such lesser sanction(s) as may be deemed appropriate by the university.
Policy Manager
Patricia Cardoso-Erase, Dean of Students
Contacts
Contact Name
Patricia Cardoso-Erase
Contact Title
Dean of Students
Contact Email
Contact Telephone
Executive Unit
Student Affairs and Campus Life
Topic