Speech and Literature Distribution Policy
PROCEDURES REGARDING SPEECH AND DISTRIBUTION
OF LITERATURE IN PUBLIC AREAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE
Effective April 20, 2004
Revised February 8, 2005
1. Scope
This procedure applies to individuals and groups, not part of the campus community, who wish to engage in speech activities (including leafleting) within the demarcated boundaries of the University.
A. Speech
Individuals are allowed to express their views on any topic, provided that they neither impinge upon the equal rights of others nor interfere with the educational process of the university.
B. Literature
Literature means any printed material, including any newspaper, magazine or other publication, and any leaflet, flyer, or other informal printed matter intended for distribution or actually distributed to members of the campus community.
1. Required Registration Process
Organizations or individuals external to the University of Louisville must complete and submit a required Registration Request Form to the Dean of Students Office of Public Safety, before 5:00 p.m. at least five full business days prior to the date requested on the Registration Request Form.
Complete an On Line Request Form or fill out a form in person at the Dean of Students Office W301 of the Student Activities Center. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Electronic registrations will be routed to both the Dean of Students Office and the Office of Public Safety simultaneously. Electronic registration is available around the clock but must still meet the 5:00 p.m. deadline for date requests.
Completion of the form does not insure that the University will approve the requested date and time. The University reserves the right to substitute another date and time frame for that requested.
A. Date and Time
Distribution of literature and public speaking will occur during weekday business hours, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., while most students are on campus. The registration form allows the individual or group to propose the date and time of a visit of up to three hours.
By 5:00 p.m. on the third business day following the submission of the Registration Request Form, the University will respond to the requesting individual or organization. The University may confirm the request as submitted, or the University may notify the requesting individual or organization that, based upon the University’s right to determine time, place and manner and its need to assess and provide appropriate security, the request cannot be approved as submitted.
If the request is rejected, the University will contact the requesting individual or organization within 30 days of the rejection to provide an alternate date and time. The alternate date and time shall be within 30 days of the date and time originally requested unless extraordinary circumstances require a further postponement.
B. Number of Participants
A group of up to five off-campus persons from one organization at any one time may distribute literature on campus. Up to two off-campus persons from one organization may speak publicly on campus at any one time.
C. Form of Communication
So that a written record of all communication can be maintained, e-mail shall be the preferred form of communication between the University and the requestor.
3. Security
The University will provide security if it deems that the speaker or distributor of literature may engender a strong or hostile response. The University is not liable for any injury or destruction of property the individual or organization may incur as a result of the lack or failure of any security measures.
4. Location
Public areas include the grass and sidewalk areas of the University and do not include buildings and outdoor instructional, athletic or sports venues.
The University has identified certain campus public areas where public speech and distribution of literature will be permitted. All speakers and distributors of literature will be assigned to those areas.
5. Content and Manner
The University requires that public speech and discourse on campus shall be civil. An essential value of higher education is learning how to separate substantive argument from personal offense and how to express even the deepest disagreements within standards of civility that demonstrate mutual respect, understanding, and sensitivity to the diverse populations of the University community.
A. Content.
Defamation, incitement to violence, and obscenity are prohibited, as herein defined:
[1] Obscenity
No person or organization shall distribute or display on the campus any writing or visual image that is obscene, as defined in KRS 525.010 or successor provisions, and is within the constitutional definition of obscenity as set forth in decisions of the United States Supreme Court.
[2] Defamation
No person shall make, distribute, or display on the campus any statement that defames any other person. A statement unlawfully defames another person if it is false, if the false portion of the statement injures the reputation of the other person, and if the speaker has the constitutionally required state of mind as set forth in decisions of the United States Supreme Court.
[3] Incitement to imminent violations of the law
No person shall make, distribute, or display on the campus any statements directed to inciting or producing imminent violations of law under circumstances such that the statements are likely to actually and imminently incite or produce violations of law.
B. Manner
Public speech and the distribution of literature must not threaten the safety of the members of the University community or interfere with the University’s educational mission. The manner of speech or distribution of literature must comply with the following restrictions:
[1] Harassment (KRS 525.070)
No speaker or distributor of literature shall harass anyone. A person is guilty of harassment when, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, he or she:
(a) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise subjects him to physical contact; or
(b) Attempts or threatens to strike, shove, kick, or otherwise subject the person to physical contact; or
(c) In a public place, makes an offensively coarse utterance, gesture, or display, or addresses abusive language to any person present; or
(d) Follows a person in or about a public place or places; or
(e) Engages in a course of conduct or repeatedly commits acts which alarm or seriously annoy such other person and which serve no legitimate purpose.
[2] Wearing of Masks (Metro Govt. General Provision 130.01)
No person shall enter, be or appear on the University campus, while wearing any mask whereby a substantial portion of the face is hidden or covered so as to conceal the identity of the wearer.
[3] Impediment of movement
No person may deliberately impede the flow of pedestrians or vehicular traffic on campus.
[4] Coercion
No person may attempt to coerce, intimidate, or badger any other person into listening to speech or into reviewing or accepting a copy of any literature distributed.
[5] Demanding Attention
No person may persist in requesting or demanding the attention of any other person after that individual has attempted to walk away from or has clearly refused to listen to the speaker or has not accepted the distributed literature.
[6] Identification of Distributor
All literature distributed on campus must include the identity of the registered person(s) or organization as well as a valid and complete contact address and telephone number.
[7] No Sales
No literature may be for sale or dispersed with the expectation of a donation.
[8] No Litter
Any person(s) distributing literature on campus must remove all copies from the ground within 30 feet of the designated area before leaving campus.
[9] Signage
Persons registered to distribute literature or speak on campus may carry or wear signs but must exercise care not to bump, injure or hit any other person. Signs may not promote items for sale. Sign handles must be made of cardboard or other pliable material.
[10] Amplification
Because of the proximity of the public speech areas to classrooms, no amplification will be permitted.
6. Compliance With Policy
A. Violations
Failure to abide by the terms of this document will result in the Dean of Students Office (or designee) or law enforcement employee directing the violating individual(s) to leave campus. In cases of marginal disruption, administrators and law enforcement officials will clearly identify the behavior or speech violating this procedure, and seek voluntary compliance before removing an individual or individuals from campus or resorting to charges and/or arrest.
Upon a violation, the Dean of Students Office will schedule a meeting with the individual or organization representative within 20 workdays to impose a restriction from campus for a period of up to six months. Appeals in writing may be made to the Vice President for Student Affairs within 10 workdays of imposition of the restriction from campus. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the appeal and will make a written response to the appeal within 15 workdays.
B. Failure to Register
Unregistered individuals speaking or distributing literature who come to the attention of the University will be removed from campus by law enforcement personnel. Such persons will be permitted to return to speak or distribute literature only after complying with the terms of the registration procedure described herein.
C. Failure to Appear
Because the University seeks to accommodate and manage the requests of multiple individuals and groups to speak on campus, a failure to appear at the date and time for which an individual or group has registered will constitute a violation of this procedure, and three such instances within a twelve-month period will trigger the provisions of Section 6(A).
7. This document supersedes all other statements or documents that attempt to define and regulate speech activities on the University of Louisville campus by outside individuals or groups.
Revised February 8, 2005
