| Speakers |
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| Contents |
This P&P includes the following
main sections:
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Background
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Guidelines on invited speakers
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Guidelines on uninvited speakers
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| Background |
Like other universities, Southern
Polytechnic State University seeks to develop and maintain a culture that
encourages the free expression of ideas. Speakers often may
visit our campus, most of whom have been invited but some of whom have
not. This P&P provides guidelines for their activity. |
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Guidelines on
Invited Speakers |
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Southern Polytechnic State University
welcomes and encourages opportunities for speakers to visit the campus
to share and discuss their views with students, faculty, and staff.
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Invitations to speakers must be extended
by recognized student organizations or by members of the faculty and staff.
The individual or group making the invitation is responsible for making
all local arrangements including scheduling of facilities and publicity.
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If the desired speaker is controversial
and/or the audience is expected to be large, the dean of students should
be consulted in advance of the invitation to facilitate planning arrangements
with the University Police, department of Public Relations, and other campus
offices.
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An invitation to a speaker may be cancelled
by the president if, in consultation with her/his staff, the president
determines that the proposed speaker will constitute a clear and present
danger to the university's orderly operation by the speaker's advocacy*
of actions such as the following:
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The violent overthrow of the Government
of the United States, the State of Georgia, or any political sub-division
thereof
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The willful seizure, damage, or destruction
of the university's buildings or other property
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The forcible disruption, impairment
of, or interference with the university's regularly scheduled classes or
other educational functions
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The physical harm, coercion, intimidation,
or other invasion of lawful rights of the university's officials, faculty
members, or students
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Other campus disorder of a disruptive
violent nature
* Advocacy, as used above, means
to urge the group to imminent action as opposed to the abstract espousal
of the moral propriety of resorting to force to achieve one's objective.
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Guidelines on
Uninvited
Speakers |
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Occasionally individuals visit the campus
unannounced and uninvited for the purpose of delivering various kinds of
messages, some of which may be offensive to some members of the campus
community. Although the university cannot be held responsible for the content
of these messages, it also may not be in the position legally to prohibit
these individuals from speaking.
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To accommodate an individual’s right
of free expression (within the limits of the law) and the university’s
right and responsibility to maintain a peaceful and orderly campus, speakers
will be allowed to express themselves consistent with the following conditions:
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The days and times allowed will be Monday
through Friday from 12:00noon to 1:00p.m. and 5:00p.m. to 6:00p.m. providing
no other campus activity has been scheduled in the prescribed area during
these days and times.
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Note: Previously scheduled activities
will take priority.
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The area for such expression shall be
limited to the front of the student center on the east side of "The Globe"
behind the bench and on the grassy area.
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Speakers will not be allowed to use
any sound amplification equipment or otherwise cause an interruption of
classes or other university activities.
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The speaker’s presence will in no way
interfere with the free and easy flow of pedestrian traffic to and from
the plaza area.
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No literature or other material will
be made available for sale and any solicitation of money will be prohibited.
Any literature to be distributed will be offered freely and accepted voluntarily
by individuals listening to a speaker.
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Any sign or placard used by the speaker
will be removed when the speaker is finished.
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Any non-compliance with these conditions
will result in the speaker or speakers being asked to leave or to be otherwise
removed from campus property.
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Within the context of these policies,
the freedoms of speech and assembly guaranteed by the First and Fourteenth
Amendments of the United States Constitution are re-affirmed. This right,
however, shall always carry with it an equal obligation for orderly conduct,
non-interference with university functions or activities, and identification
of sponsoring groups or individuals.
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The preservation of a suitable environment
for education is of paramount importance. The use of university facilities
in the exercise of the right of free expression shall, therefore, be subordinate
to the need to carry out the regularly scheduled functions and organized
activities of the university.
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