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Freedom Of Expression & Assembly Student Policy & Procedures (Time, Place and Manner Regulations)

Last updated: September 24, 2024

Purpose

The State University of New York (SUNY) respects and fully supports the rights of free speech guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and the State of New York. SUNY values the free expression of ideas and supports individuals’ right to assemble.

SUNY New Paltz promulgates this policy to provide meaningful opportunities for members of our community to express their views and to ensure that the time, place, and manner of such expression does not interfere with the safety and security of our campus community or disrupt the regular operations of the campus.

Scope

This content-neutral policy is applicable to all SUNY New Paltz students. SUNY’s "Use of Campus Facilities by Third Parties for Free Speech” policy applies to all third parties, who are not sponsored by SUNY or its campuses who want to use the SUNY campus’s designated public forum for free speech purposes.

Policy

SUNY New Paltz students are guaranteed the rights of free inquiry and expression. Subject to applicable content-neutral policy, students are guaranteed the right to hold public meetings and engage in peaceful and orderly assemblies—including, but not limited to, protests, demonstrations, rallies, vigils, marches, and picketing—in and upon designated public areas of campus grounds and buildings.

SUNY New Paltz designates the following as public areas for the purpose of peaceful and orderly assemblies: Public forum map.pdf (newpaltz.edu)

SUNY New Paltz will not interfere with orderly assemblies in designated public areas unless participants engage in any of the following:

  1. Conduct that prevents the orderly administration of University classes, lectures, meetings, interviews, ceremonies, and other campus events or University operations;

  2. Conduct that obstructs the free movement of vehicles or of persons, including, but not limited to in any building, facility, public grounds and throughfares inclusive of blocking hallways, doors, and walkways

  3. Engage in conduct that could foreseeably cause injury or damage to persons or property;

  4. Operation of audio amplification equipment in a manner that conflicts with normal University operations or that is deemed injurious to health and safety, or that is in violation of Town and/or Village of New Paltz ordinances;

  5. Constructing or erecting structures, whether or not they are anchored, inclusive of screens and/or objects requiring penetration in concrete or grass, or camp on University grounds without authorization through the Center for Student Engagement (CSE) student organization approval process for events, and indoor and outdoor encampment is generally prohibited (see campus policy on Camping and Use of Tents on Campus);

  6. Possession and/or ignition of an open flame of any type, including, but not limited to, candles, flares, torches;

  7. Assemblies lasting more than one day, duration not to exceed 12 hours in a one-day period, and assemblies between the hours of 10:00PM and 8:00AM are prohibited;

  8. Activities that violate the provisions of SUNY Policy 3653, Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order; and

  9. Activities that violate the provisions of any other applicable campus policy, including but not limited to: Posting Policy, Identification Card Policy, Camping and Use of Tents Policy, Center for Student Engagement Handbook requirements and any violation of the Code of Conduct/Student Handbook such as Disorderly/Disruptive Conduct and Trespassing/Unauthorized Use of Facilities and Services.

In addition, the following activities are strictly prohibited:

  1. Entry into any private office of an administrative officer, member of faculty, or staff member, or entry into any other college area that is not authorized, without permission;

  2. Unauthorized occupancy of any campus building after building closure; and

 

  1. Obstruction of any public spaces or roadways running through or adjoining the University’s campus grounds.

All individuals participating in protests and demonstrations are required to provide a form of University issued or government issued identification upon request from a University official. For more information regarding student ID cards, see Identification Card Policy.

SUNY New Paltz takes compliance with this policy very seriously. Students should expect that violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action under the University’s Student Code of Conduct, up to and including interim suspension, suspension, and expulsion.

Procedures

SUNY New Paltz respects and supports students’ efforts to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. The Division of Student Affairs has designated the Center for Student Engagement to provide the appropriate support for the successful implementation of these events. Following University procedure will ensure a safe and effective assembly activity. The University will make every effort to respond affirmatively to all requests to engage in assembly activity. However, content-neutral consideration must be given to the time, place, and manner of the assembly activity to ensure the health and safety of the participants and the noninterference with authorized University business, activities, or events.

Services

To help ensure the safety of participants and the protection of the rights of all members of the campus community, the University can provide services to registered student organizations and student requests such as location, safety, crowd control, sound equipment (unless prohibited in certain areas as per University rules as outlined in the Center for Student Engagement’s Student Handbook), site preparation/cleanup, and/or other such facilities or services it deems necessary (“Services”).

Request for Services

  1. For assemblies, demonstrations, protests, rallies or vigils where the need for Services is reasonably foreseeable, event organizers shall, within 30-40 days prior to the planned event, submit a written Request for Services, as follows:
    1. The written request should contain the name of the sponsor/organizer, the proposed location and any other Services sought, the date and time of the planned assembly, and the number of persons expected to participate.
    2. The request should be submitted to: Center for Student Engagement’s Engage: Student Organization Platform
    3. A professional staff member from The Center for Student Engagement will promptly respond to the request for Services after receipt of the written request but no later than three (3) business days prior to the proposed date of the planned event.
    4. A professional staff member will review the request and work with the sponsor/organizer to accommodate requests and determine a reasonable time, place, and manner for the assembly activity.
    5. While every attempt will be made to accommodate all requests, some modifications to the assembly activity request may be required due to the availability of the proposed time and place of the activity. A Center for Student Engagement professional staff member will inform the sponsor/organizer of these modifications and provide guidance as the assembly activity is planned.
    6. In the event that the proposed assembly activity is planned in direct response to a current event and has a timely nature associated with it, the Center for Student Engagement realizes that it may not be possible to submit a request in the previously noted timeframes. In such cases, the event organizer must contact and have ongoing communication with the Center for Student Engagement at least 10-14 days prior in order to promptly coordinate the assembly activity through appropriate processes.