Chapter 4 Speech, Expression and Assembly
- The freedoms of speech, expression and assembly are fundamental rights of all persons and are central to the mission of the University. Students, faculty and staff have the right to assemble, to speak, and to attempt to attract the attention of others and corresponding rights to hear the speech of others when they choose to listen, and to ignore the speech of others when they choose not to listen.
- Students, faculty and staff are free to express their views, individually or in organized groups, orally or in writing or by other symbols, on any topic in all parts of the campus, subject only to rules necessary to preserve the equal rights of others and the other functions of the University. Teaching, research and other official functions of the University shall have priority in the allocation of space on campus. The use of University Facilities is covered in Chapter 5 of this Handbook.
- Except as expressly authorized by Subchapter 4-200, the University shall not discriminate on the basis of the political, religious, philosophical, ideological or academic viewpoint expressed by any person, either in the enforcement and administration of these rules or otherwise.
- This chapter protects and regulates speech, expression and assembly of students, faculty and staff that are not part of the teaching, research or other official functions of the University, not otherwise sponsored by the University or any academic or administrative unit, and not submitted for academic credit.
- This chapter also regulates certain speech that is part of the teaching, research or other official functions of the University:
- Section 4-204 on Harassment applies to all speech on campus.
- This entire chapter applies to speech by academic and administrative units and speech that is submitted for academic credit in outdoor locations on the campus. The Director of the Office of Student Governance and Organizations reviews and schedules outdoor signs, tables, exhibits, public assemblies, and amplified sound, even for faculty, staff and administrative and academic units because scheduling through a single office is necessary to avoid conflicts.
- Any program or event sponsored by an academic or administrative unit of the University shall have priority in the use of space and facilities over any speech, expression and assembly that is not sponsored by an academic or administrative unit, except that programs or events sponsored by an academic or administrative unit shall not have priority in the use of weekday amplified sound areas defined in Section 4-802. Academic and administrative units have equal access to scheduling the amplified sound areas. This chapter does not limit other existing authorities of University officials to authorize programs and events sponsored by an academic or administrative unit not provided for in this chapter.
- Additional rules concerning free speech and academic freedom of the faculty are found in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 31004.
- Underlying rules concerning free speech of students are found in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 80101 & 40501. This chapter implements those provisions and applies them to the UTA campus.
- Rules restricting access to the campus and restricting speech on the campus by persons who are not students, faculty or staff are found in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 80101.
- Rules protecting and regulating speech on University computer networks are promulgated by the Office of Information Technology and are currently found on UTA's web page.
- Rules requiring University employees to make clear that controversial statements are made in their personal capacities are found in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 10403. Rules restricting the use of University equipment, supplies, services and working hours for political activities are found in the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 30103.
- "Academic or administrative unit" means any office or department of the University.
- "Faculty member and staff member" includes any person who is employed by the University.
- "Off-campus person or organization" means any person, organization or business that is not an academic or administrative unit, a registered student, faculty or staff organization, or a student, faculty member or staff member.
- "University person or organization" includes academic and administrative units, registered student, faculty, and staff organizations, and individual students, faculty members, and staff members. This phrase describes the most inclusive category of potential speakers on campus; all persons and organizations of any kind are either an "off-campus person or organization" or a "University person or organization."
- "Registered student, faculty or staff organization" includes a registered student organization under Chapter 3, a faculty or staff organization under the Regents' Rules and Regulations, Series 40201, and student government and any unit or subdivision thereof.
- "Student" means a person who is currently enrolled in residence at the University, or who is accepted for admission or readmission to the University, or who has been enrolled at the University in the prior semester or summer session and is eligible to continue enrollment in the semester or summer session that immediately follows, or who is attending an educational program sponsored by the University while that person is on campus.
- "Amplified sound" means sound whose volume is increased by any electric, electronic, mechanical, or motor-powered means. Shouting and group chanting are not amplified sound and are not subject to the special rules on amplified sound, but are subject to general rules on disruption.
- "Dean of Students" means the Dean of Students or any delegate or representative of the Dean of Students.
- "Director" means the Director of the Office of Student Governance and Organizations or any delegate or representative of the Director of the Office of Student Governance and Organizations.
- "O.S.G.O." means the Office of Student Governance and Organizations.
- "Room or space" includes any room or space, indoors or outdoors, owned or controlled by the University.
- "University" means The University of Texas at Arlington.
- "Weekday" means Monday through Friday except for official University holidays; "day" means calendar day.
- "Advisor" means a member of the University faculty or full-time staff who advises the members of an organization.
- "Table" means booths, displays, furniture, enclosure or any other structure temporarily used for distribution of literature, or for displaying signs or posters or for raising funds or soliciting, or for other similar activities.
- "University Facility" means an auditorium, arena, dormitory, other building, room, public area, or any other area on the campus.
- "University President" means the President of The University of Texas at Arlington.
- "Campus Events Information Sheet" means the form used by a registered student organization to schedule an activity on the UTA campus and is available at the Office of Student Governance and Organizations.