Guidelines for On-Campus Demonstrations

Members of the university community may conduct on-campus demonstrations provided that they have read, understand, and agree to abide by the University’s Freedom of Expression Policy and Guidelines for On-Campus Demonstrations. Members of the university community further agree that the on-campus demonstration must comply with all applicable laws and University policies and will be responsible for all consequences resulting from conduct at this event.

Reflected in the University’s Freedom of Expression Policy, Marymount University is committed to meaningful dialogue and encourages open, ongoing intellectual engagement and debate through civil, mutually respectful interactions that preserve the openness of public discourse and debate. An environment that encourages diverse views and the free exchange of ideas is vital to the University. Therefore, the University ensures that members of the university community (students, faculty, and staff) may assemble peacefully, express their ideas freely, and demonstrate their concerns collectively by orderly means.

To this end, the University has established these reasonable guidelines for on-campus demonstrations related to time, place, and manner limitations to maintain an environment (a) that protects the health and safety of the community; (b) where all are free to learn and work; and (c) avoids conduct that is disruptive or interferes with the University’s normal operations and the activities of members of the community.

To ensure the safety and the orderly functioning of the University, members of the community planning an on-campus demonstration must register their demonstration by completing a form at least seven (7) calendar days in advance of the demonstration.

The Quad, which is the lawn in front of the Reinsch Pierce Family Campus Hub, is the designated location for on-campus demonstrations for individual students, student groups, and members of the university community. Permissible activities at this location include displaying signboards with written opinions, speeches, or handouts on a current issue, a memorial vigil, etc.

The following additional guidelines apply to on-campus demonstrations by members of the university community:

Students, faculty, and staff need to register on-campus demonstrations through the Office of Cultural Education and Support. Two or more community members gathering together to express an opinion about a particular issue of interest constitutes an on-campus demonstration subject to these guidelines. The registration of demonstrations should be submitted at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the scheduled event.
On-campus demonstrations must be organized and led only by members of the Marymount University community. An individual (student, faculty or staff member) must be designated as the organizer/liaison for the demonstration.
After submitting the registration form, the organizer/liaison for the on-campus demonstration must meet with the Office of Cultural Education and Support to review the details of the proposed demonstration including the proposed time, place, manner, and planned size of the demonstration.
On-campus demonstrations must be peaceful and orderly. All forms of on-campus demonstrations must not interfere with the normal operations of the University and must adhere to all applicable University policies and laws, including the set of responsibilities outlined in the Freedom of Expression Policy. For example, demonstrations must not:
threaten or endanger the health or safety of any person in the community;
deny or infringe upon the rights of other students, faculty, staff, and guests of the community;
disrupt or interfere with educational and other activities of the community;
create a volume of sound that prevents members of the University from conducting their normal activities;
obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic on campus;
obstruct or restrict the free movement of persons;
obstruct or interfere with the normal use of university facilities by students, faculty, staff and guests of the University;
obstruct the orderly operations of the University;
damage University property, or contribute to property damage;
violate the law; and
violate University policies, including but not limited to the Student Community Conduct Code, Faculty Handbook, Human Resources policies, Sexual and Interpersonal Misconduct Policy and Non-Discrimination and Ant-Harassment Policy.
When on-campus demonstrations occur in the context of a speaker on campus, audience members may not behave in a way that infringes upon others’ ability to view or comprehend the speaker. During the speech itself, prolonged or continued chanting or possible incitement of a disturbance intended to distract the speaker or disrupt the speech can, at the discretion of law enforcement or designated University officials, result in individuals being removed from the event.
At the conclusion of the on-campus demonstration, reasonable effort needs to be made to return the Quad to the condition it was in before the event. This includes properly disposing of all garbage. Any unanticipated and accidental property damage should be reported to the University immediately. Property damage related to the on-campus demonstration may result in the assessment of fees to the organization or individuals involved.

Use of university space for an on-campus demonstration does not imply institutional endorsement of the viewpoints expressed.