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When assemblies and protests occur in the context of a speaker on campus, audience members should behave in a civil manner and not infringe upon others’ ability to view or hear the speaker. Protesters should respect the rights of all people, property, and the environment and should not represent a threat to campus safety or physical property. Assemblies and protests may not take place in a manner that violates the law, defames any individual, constitutes a genuine threat or harassment, or incites violence. While participating in an assembly, individuals are prohibited from possessing or utilizing objects and/or apparel that could present a threat to the health or safety of the campus community including, but not limited to, weapons, pepper spray, mace, torches, helmets, or protective armor or gear or similar items that could cause injury or harm to others, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Assemblies and protests may not utilize amplified sound in a manner that interferes with classes or other events in progress. Individuals engaged in an assembly may not claim to speak for or otherwise represent the position of the University, unless officially sanctioned by the University. Sanctioning occurs as part of the Notification process described above.
Failure to comply with this policy or with the direction of law enforcement or University officials can result in removal from the event and referral to the student code of conduct process. The University may interrupt or stop any assembly or protest that violates this policy or other policies or the Student Handbook. A decision to interrupt or stop an assembly or protest is final. If an assembled group does not voluntarily disperse when warned that its behavior is unacceptable, the University may request that the Office of Campus Safety or local law enforcement take action to restore order to the University. Persons and groups who are not members of the University community (i.e., persons who are not University students, faculty, administrators, or staff) are not permitted to engage in assembly or expression on campus. Their presence on campus is contingent on their compliance with the University’s policies and procedures, and they must leave the campus if directed to do so at any time for any reason by any authorized official of the University. The University will not allow non-University groups to hold protests on campus property or at University events. Failure to accept the directions of authorized University officials may render nonmembers of the University community liable to action by local law enforcement.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY ON CAMPUS POLICY
Policy Summary Susquehanna University is committed to the free expression of political views by members of the campus community and to the value of discourse and debate in the educational process. The university’s policy on “Academic Freedom” and “Statement of Professional Ethics” are printed in the Faculty Handbook. Nothing in the following policy shall be construed as superseding these foundational policies for the university. Rather, the following policy should be understood as clarifying and elaborating how academic freedom should be exercised while respecting and protecting the university’s status as a tax-exempt institution. The university encourages students and other members of the campus community to learn about and participate in the political process. The purpose of this policy is to provide clear guidelines for Susquehanna University faculty, staff and students as to how they might appropriately do so. Reason(s) for the Policy To provide clear guidelines for permissible political activity by Susquehanna University faculty, staff and students in compliance with all election laws applied to non-profit institutions. Unless otherwise stated, activities listed as permitted or prohibited apply to faculty, staff or students acting in a capacity that could be construed as representing the university as an institution. The status of “permitted” or “prohibited” does not apply to activities clearly undertaken in an individual capacity as teachers, academic, intellectual, scholar, writer or citizen. Examples of situations when an activity could be construed as representing the university as an institution include, but are not limited to: using an official university email address; performing the activity on university property; posting messages on university space, virtual or materials; or failing to appropriately distinguish in the public sphere between a personal view and an institutional one. Policy I. Permitted Activities a. Voter education and voter registration
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