Reservation Process for Expressive Activity

Section

University-Wide

Effective Date

9/8/17

I. Definitions

A. Expressive Activity: Communicative conduct or activity, other than commercial speech/activity, that is protected by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, such as public speeches, demonstrations, marches, protests and picketing, and the distribution of literature. Commercial speech is governed under the University’s Solicitation Policy.

B. Recognized Student Organization or RSO: Any number of persons who have complied with the formal requirement for University recognition including Fraternities, Sororities, Chapters and Student Clubs, the Corps of Cadets and affiliated Co-curricular Clubs.

C. Non–University Community Member: Individuals or groups of people who are not enrolled at or employed by UNG

D. University Community Member: Any persons enrolled at or employed by the University including faculty, staff, administrators and employees, and recognized University affiliated entities including University foundations, Recognized Student Organizations, University Departments, and Structured Volunteers.

II. Procedure(s)

A. University Community Members

1. Designated Public Forum

a. University Community Members, who plan to engage in Expressive Activity involving 25 or more persons, must submit a completed Designated Public Forum Reservation Request, located on the Dean of Students webpage, at least two business days prior to the scheduled activity and receive confirmation of the reservation, in writing, from the Dean of Students Office prior to engaging in such activity.

b. The Dean of Students Office personnel will confirm a reservation for one of the Designated Public Forum Areas or another available area of campus, as requested by the applicant, and may only deny a reservation for the limited reasons set forth in Section C below.

2. Limited Public Forum

a. Recognized Student Organizations wishing to engage in Expressive Activity in a Limited Public Forum should contact the Office of the Dean of Students to facilitate the space reservation in the facility reservation system used by the University (https://calendar.ung.edu/virtualems/), at least two business days prior to the planned activity.

b. Faculty and Staff that wish to engage in Expressive Activity in a Limited Public Forum must submit a request for reservation of that location. A space reservation request must be submitted via the facility reservation system used by the University (https://calendar.ung.edu/virtualems/), at least two business days prior to the planned activity.

B. Non-University Community Members
To reserve the Designated Public Forum, Non-University Community members must submit a completed Designated Public Forum Reservation Request, located on the Dean of Students webpage, at least two business days prior to the scheduled activity and receive confirmation in writing from the Dean of Students Office prior to engaging in such activity. The requesting party should be notified within one University business day after its submission.

To reserve Limited Public Forums, Non-University Community members must contact the Office of Professional & Continuing Education to book the space. More information can be found on the facilities webpage.

C. General Procedures

1.    When assessing a reservation request, the University personnel must not consider or impose restrictions based on the content or viewpoint of the expression. The University may only deny a reservation request for one of the following reasons:

a.    The Designated Public Forum Reservation Request Form is not fully completed;

b.    The Designated Public Forum Reservation Request Form contains a material falsehood or misrepresentation;

c.    The Designated Public Forum Areas have been reserved by persons who previously submitted a completed Designated Public Forum Reservation Request Form(s), in which case the University must provide a reservation for the applicant at an alternate location, alternate date, or alternate time;

d.    The use or activity intended by the applicant would conflict with or disturb previously planned programs organized and conducted by the University;

e.    The Designated Public Forum Areas are not large enough to accommodate the expected or actual number of persons engaging in large group expression, in which case the University must provide a reservation for the applicant at an alternate location that can safely accommodate the applicant provided that the applicant is a member of the UNG community and that such a location exists on UNG campus;

f.     The use or activity intended by the applicant would present a danger to the health or safety of the applicant, other members of the UNG community, or the public; or

g.    The use or activity intended by the applicant is prohibited by law or UNG policy.

2. Appeals related to the decision of the Dean of Students Office personnel should be made in writing to UNG’s Vice President for Student Affairs. The decision of UNG’s Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee is final.

III. Policy Reference

The procedures above are part of the operational implementation of the University’s Policy on Expressive Activity and are in compliance with that policy.

Reservation Process for Expressive Activity Procedure

Section

Effective Date

I. Definitions

II. Procedure(s)

III. Policy Reference

IV. Review and Responsibility

Responsible Party

Review