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Assembly and Demonstrations (D-23)

Original Implementation: July 1980
Last Revision: July 13, 2006

  1. Introduction

    1. Stephen F. Austin State University reaffirms its commitment to the freedoms of speech, expression, and assemply by establishing this policy. Individuals have the right to assemble, to speak, and to attempt to attract the attention of others, and corresponding rights to hear the speech of others when they choose to listen, and to ignore the speech of others when they choose not to listen.

    2. The rules articulated in this policy apply to all students, faculty, staff, and their official organizations, as well as all other persons and groups. Due to practical administrative realities, this policy does not apply to University agents and employees when they are acting in the course and scope of their agency or employment. This exception also includes the official activities of the SFASU Alumni Association and the SFASU Foundation.

    3. Students, faculty, and staff are free to express their views, individually or in organized groups, orally, by sign or exhibit, on any topic, in all parts of the campus. Persons not affiliated with the university are free to express their views orally, by sign or exhibit, on any topic in areas designated for that purpose. These expressions are subject only to rules necessary to preserve equal rights of others and the functions of the University Teaching, research, and other official functions of the University shall have priority in allocating the use of space on campus.

  2. Definitions


    1. "Student" shall mean any person registered for academic credit at the university.

    2. "Faculty" and "Staff" shall mean any person employed by the university.

    3. "Official organiztion" shall mean any organization recognized by the university.

  3. Rules
    These rules shall govern the conduct of all assemblies and demonstrators on University property or at University-sponsored events.


    1. Assemblies and demonstrations must be conducted in compliance with these rules all other applicable University policy and must not:

      1. result in a breach of peace or violation of law,

      2. negatively impact the security, health, and safety of persons and/or property on campus,

      3. interfere with the free and unimpeded flow of pedestrian and vehicular traffic on campus or the entry or exit into University buildings,

      4. materially disrupt or interfere with the normal activities of the University,

      5. negatively impact the beauty of the University's grounds, buildings, and facilities, or

      6. create unnecessary costs and waste university resources.

    2. No person conducting or participating in an assembly or demonstration on University property or at University-sponsored events may advocate the deliberate violation of the law. For the purposes of this section, "advocacy" means preparing the group addressed for imminent action and steeling it to such action, as opposed to the abstract espousal of the moral propriety of a course of action.

    3. Students, faculty, staff, and their official organizations may assemble and/or demonstrate anywhere on university grounds between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday as long as the assembly and/or demonstration adheres to the provisions of Item 1 and a properly submitted Grounds Reservation Form has been approved.

    4. All other persons and groups may assemble and demonstrate in designated areas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday as long as the assembly and/or demonstration adheres to the provisions of Item 1 and a properly submitted Grounds Reservation Form has been approved.

    5. Requests to reserve campus grounds for an assembly and/or demonstration must be made in writing using a Grounds Reservation Form. This form is available in the Student Activities office and on the Student Activities website. The completed form must be submitted to the Student Activities office and approval must be received at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the activity. This advance notice allows the University the opportunity to avoid the problem of simultaneous and/or competing assemblies or demonstrations and to arrange for adequate security. The Grounds Reservation Form requires the applicant to provide his/her name, address, and phone number. The application must be signed and dated by the applicant.

Source of Authority: United States Constitution, Amendments I and XIV; President; Vice President for University Affairs

Cross reference: SFASU Web pages; Signs and Exhibits D-31; Use of Amplified Sound on Campus Grounds D-21

Contact for revision: Executive Director of Student Affairs

Forms: Grounds Reservation Form