R251, Campus Speakers

R251-1.Purpose: To provide guidelines for the establishment of institutional policy and standards for speakers on the campuses of the System.

R251-2.References

2.1. Utah Code §53B-2-106 (Duties and Responsibilities of the President)

2.2. Utah Code Title 53B, Chapter 3 (Enforcement of Regulations at Institutions)

2.3. Utah Code Title 76, Chapter 8, Part 7 (Criminal Offenses Against Colleges and Universities)

2.4. Policy and Procedures R120, Bylaws of the Board of Higher Education; §3.3.3.1. (Responsibility of Presidents)

2.5.Policy and Procedures R253, Campus Discipline

R251-3.Guidelines and Principles

3.1.  Need for a Speaker Policy: The Board of Higher Education has determined to adopt guidelines for policy and standards for speakers on the campuses of the System. The System encompasses a variety of institutions with a variety of roles and a variety of students and faculty in both background and interests. Equally applicable to all are the constitutional protection of freedom of speech and assembly and the basic principle of higher education of free inquiry. Since an academic community is part of our civilized society, rules protecting the rights of all members of the community and providing for an orderly exercise of those rights are appropriate for a college campus.

3.2. Separate Policies for Each Institution: To preserve the individuality and traditions of each of the institutions in our System, detailed rules and criteria for the appearance and performance on campus of speakers, whether sponsored by the institution itself, by organizations of students or faculty, or otherwise related to the institution, should be adopted by the president and the institutional Board of Trustees of each institution.

3.3. Principles to Be Recognized: However, to secure appropriate consideration of the critical factors involved, we believe that such rules as may be adopted by each institution shall recognize the following principles:

3.3.1. All persons on campus, whether administrators, faculty, students, employees, or visitors, are subject to the law. Those who violate the law while on campus are subject to prosecution, as are any other citizens. It is the obligation of each institution in the System to review and establish its own standards and rules of conduct and method of enforcement of such rules, as well as state laws, within the guidelines herein established.

 3.3.2. There shall be fair and nondiscriminatory procedures for allocation of available facilities and to ensure noninterference with regularly established academic and other institutional functions. However, such routine procedures shall not be used as a device for censorship, but for orderly scheduling and adequate preparation.

 3.3.3. Students and faculty shall be free to organize and to participate in voluntary associations of their own choosing, subject to reasonable regulations to ensure that such associations are neither discriminatory in their treatment of other members of the academic community nor operated in a manner which substantially interferes with the rights of others. Such associations shall be subject to rules applicable to all members of the institutional community which forbid acts of intimidation or disruption of the institution and other acts made illegal by general law.

 3.3.4. All members of the institutional community shall be protected from censorship in their exercise of freedom of speech and assembly and, at the same time, protected from interference with a speaker’s presentation of his ideas through acts of disruption. In addition to protection of their own freedom of speech, members of the academic community shall be free to invite and hear any person of their own choosing, in accordance with the principles set forth in the preceding paragraphs and consequent institutional procedures. However, in selecting speakers sponsored by the institution itself, recognition shall be given to the need for a fair representation of all views in the broad spectrum of thought in our pluralistic society.

Adopted June 17, 1970, amended September 2, 1999.