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Policies and Procedures
Freedom of Expression & Assembly

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) respects and fully supports the rights of free speech guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and the State of New York. SUNY values the free expression of ideas and supports individuals’ right to assemble.

Reason for Policy

To set forth the SUNY ESF policy regarding freedom of expression and assembly on Campus, providing meaningful opportunities for members of our community to express their views and to ensure that the time, place, and manner of such expression does not interfere with the safety and security of our Campus community or disrupt the regular operations of the Campus.

This content-neutral policy is applicable to all SUNY ESF students. 

SUNY ESF’s Request for Assembly policy applies to all third parties, who are not sponsored by SUNY ESF and/or a recognized student group, where such third parties want to use the SUNY Campus’ designated public forum for free speech purposes.

References

Policy Office: Executive Director for Administration 
Contact: policies@esf.edu

Contacts

Specific questions should be directed to the following:

Policy Clarification and General Information Policy Development
Executive Officer for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
(315) 470-6660
kmccar10@esf.edu 

Definitions

  • Campus - Any space, facility, property, grounds or building that is owned, leased, licensed or operated by SUNY ESF. This Policy applies to Centennial Hall, and this facility is to be included in this definition of Campus; provided, however, that this does not preclude Centennial Hall from adopting additional policies not inconsistent with this item.
  • Temporary Revocable Permit - A written document issued by an appropriate SUNY ESF official, expressly allowing the use of College Property for a specified amount of time. Any such permits are temporary and may be revoked if permit conditions are not followed.
  • Third Party - Any person, organization, group or entity not affiliated with SUNY ESF including, but not limited to, the general public, contractors, vendors, guests and visitors to SUNY ESF, those using SUNY ESF’s facilities or property under a temporary revocable permit, and volunteers not enrolled as such on SUNY ESF’s systems.
  • Services - To help ensure the safety of participants and the protection of the rights of all members of the campus community, the College can provide services to registered student organizations, including location, safety, crowd control, sound equipment (unless prohibited in certain areas as per SUNY ESF’s rules), site preparation/cleanup, and/or other such facilities or services it deems necessary (“Services”).

Policy Details

  1. SUNY ESF students are guaranteed the rights of free inquiry and expression. Subject to applicable content-neutral policy, students are guaranteed the right to hold public meetings and engage in peaceful and orderly assemblies—including, but not limited to, protests, demonstrations, rallies, vigils, marches, and picketing—in and upon designated public areas of campus grounds and buildings.

    SUNY ESF designates the following as public areas for the purpose of peaceful and orderly assemblies: Moon Library Patio. Provided, however, that if this space is not available, the Office of Special Events will make reasonable effort to identify another area. The location of the designated public forum may be relocated to other areas of the campus to address concerns for the health, safety, and welfare of the campus community.
  2. SUNY ESF will not interfere with orderly assemblies in designated public areas of grounds and buildings unless participants engage in any of the following:
    1. Conduct that prevents the orderly administration of college classes, lectures, meetings, interviews, ceremonies, and other campus events or SUNY ESF operations;
    2. Conduct that obstructs the free movement of vehicles or of persons, including, but not limited to in any building or facility, inclusive of blocking hallways and doors;
    3. Conduct that could foreseeably cause injury or damage to persons or property;
    4. Operation of audio amplification equipment in a manner that conflicts with normal SUNY ESF operations or that is deemed injurious to health and safety, or that is in violation of the local municipal ordinances;
    5. Constructing or erecting structures, whether or not they are anchored, inclusive of screens and/or objects requiring penetration in concrete or grass, or camp on Campus without authorization from an appropriate SUNY ESF official, and indoor and outdoor encampment is generally prohibited (see campus policies on tents/camping);
    6. Possession and/or ignition of an open flame of any type, including, but not limited to, torches;
    7. Assemblies lasting more than one day on Campus, duration not to exceed 12 hours in a one-day period, and assemblies between the hours of 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM are prohibited;
    8. Activities that violate the provisions of SUNY Policy Doc. No. 3653, Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order; and
    9. Activities that violate the provisions of any other applicable campus policy, including but not limited to, the SUNY ESF Student Code of Conduct.
  3. In addition, the following activities are strictly prohibited:
    1. Entry into any private office of an administrative officer, member of faculty, or staff member, or entry into any other college area that is not authorized, without permission, where such spaces may include:
      1. offices, laboratories, libraries, and other facilities that normally contain valuable or sensitive materials, collections, equipment, records protected by law or by existing SUNY policy such as educational records, student-related or personnel-related records, or financial records; and
      2. Classrooms, seminar rooms, auditoriums or meeting rooms in which classes or private meetings are being held or are immediately scheduled.
    2. Occupation of a building after it is normally closed; and
    3. Obstruction of any roadways running through or adjoining the University’s campus grounds.
  4. All individuals participating in protests and demonstrations are required to provide a form of identification issued by SUNY ESF (including identification cards issued by Syracuse University) or government-issued identification upon request from a SUNY ESF official.
  5. SUNY ESF’s Division of Student Affairs is responsible for addressing non-compliance with this Policy by all students, and students may be referred to the conduct process for alleged violation of this Policy. SUNY ESF takes compliance with this policy very seriously. Students should expect that violations of this policy will result in disciplinary action under the SUNY ESF Student Code of Conduct, up to and including interim suspension, suspension, and expulsion.
  6. University Police Department is responsible for addressing violations of this Policy that constitute alleged criminal trespass or any other violation of law by all persons on the SUNY ESF Campus.
  7. SUNY ESF respects and supports students’ efforts to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. The Division of Student Affairs is designated as the office responsible for providing the appropriate support for the successful implementation of these events, including Services, as defined above. Following SUNY ESF’s procedure will promote a safe and effective assembly activity. SUNY ESF will make every effort to respond affirmatively to all requests to engage in assembly activity. However, content-neutral consideration must be given to the time, place, and manner of the assembly activity to ensure the health and safety of the participants and the noninterference with authorized SUNY ESF business, activities, or events.
  8. The views of the individuals assembling on campus are the views of the individuals alone and not SUNY ESF. 

Procedures

Specific Procedure 

  1. Services Requested
    1. For assemblies where the need for Services is reasonably foreseeable, event organizers shall, within five (5) business days prior to the planned event, submit a written Request for Services, as follows:
      1. The written request should contain the name of the sponsor/organizer, the proposed location and any other Services sought, the date and time of the planned assembly, and the number of persons expected to participate.
      2. The request should be submitted to: students@esf.edu (315-470- 6660).
      3. A professional staff member from the Division of Student Life (or designee) will promptly respond to the request for Services after timely receipt of the written request but no later than three (3) business days prior to the proposed date of the planned event.
      4. A professional staff member will review the request and work with the sponsor/organizer to accommodate requests and determine a reasonable time, place, and manner for the assembly activity.
      5. While every attempt will be made to accommodate all requests, some modifications to the assembly activity request may be required due to the availability of the proposed time and place of the activity. A professional staff member will inform the sponsor/organizer of these modifications and provide guidance as the assembly activity is planned.
    2. In the event that the proposed assembly activity is planned in direct response to a current event, it may not be possible to submit a request in advance. In such cases, the event organizer should contact the Division of Student Life as soon as possible in order to promptly coordinate the assembly activity, where reasonably possible.
  2. No Services Required
    1. For assemblies requiring no Services, or for which the need for Services is not reasonably foreseeable or necessary as described above, the assembly may take place without any prior notification by the sponsors and/or organizers.
    2. Conformity with the specific campus rules noted above is required.
    3. Organizers who are unsure of whether their planned assembly requires Services are encouraged to contact the appropriate office designated in sub-paragraph (1)(b) above for guidance.
    4. Event organizers who do not request necessary services that were reasonably foreseeable as being needed may be subject to discipline.
  3. Respectful Use of Space
    1. In using the Campus for Assembly, students and student organizations agree to:
      1. Be responsible for picking up and properly disposing from the designated public forum any trash, brochures, pamphlets, leaflets or other handouts or goods that were brought to the campus to disseminate.
      2. Remove posters, signs and banners not later than two weeks after being posted or within 24 hours of the advertised event’s completion.
    2. Posting of written and printed materials on vehicles without the owners’ permission is not permitted.
    3. Use of a megaphone or electronic equipment for the amplification of sound is prohibited without prior approval.
    4. Chalking is limited to the use of water-soluble chalk (sidewalk chalk). The use of markers, paints, oil-based products, non-soluble products, and spray chalks are prohibited. Chalking is permitted only on horizontal (flat) sidewalks, and chalking is prohibited on all vertical surfaces and all non-sidewalk surfaces, both inside and outside.
    5. Participants are expected to be respectful to SUNY ESF employees involved in ensuring the safety of the community and compliance with these guidelines.
  4. How to Request Use of Space
    1. Obtaining a Temporary Revocable Permit
      1. Requests for a Temporary Revocable Permit should be made to the Office of Special Events at specialevents@esf.edu.
      2. Depending on the use and access requested, a permittee may be required to provide proof of insurance, comply with procedures to protect minors on Campus, and all federal or state laws, rules, and regulations. Further, a permittee will be required to comply with all Campus policies, rules, and regulations and with any specific terms and conditions imposed by the Temporary Revocable Permit

History

Procedure Revision Record

08/21/2024  Implementation Date

Policy Revision Record

08/21/2024-Policy Implementation Signed by President