GREENSBORO — UNCG students and employees now have more spaces on campus where they can speak their minds.
Officials at UNCG on Monday approved a new outdoor assembly and distribution/petitioning policy that removes restrictions on where people affiliated with the university or invited to come to campus can go to freely speak.
“It does away with the notion of free-speech zones completely,” said university attorney Lucien “Skip” Capone III.
The university’s old policy designated two such zones, on the east lawn by Elliott University Center and the eastern portion of the lawn in front of the Foust Building. Last year, two students were brought up on honor court charges for protesting in areas of campus other than those defined as free-speech zones. The charges were later dropped.
The new policy establishes some guidelines for those affiliated with the school –– students, staff and faculty –– and groups invited to speak in writing by an affiliated entity.
Under the guidelines, assemblies may not interfere with university activities; take place in athletic or campus recreation facilities; block vehicular, bicycle or pedestrian traffic, or occur within 200 feet of a child care facility or within 30 feet of a building. Groups are also required to notify campus police before an event in case safety measures are necessary.
People who are not affiliated and do not have an invitation to come will not be permitted to conduct an outdoor assembly on the campus, Capone said.
“The main purpose of the campus is to provide teaching, research and service,” he said. “That’s got to be our priority.”
The policy notes that a number of public streets and sidewalks, which are considered public forums, run through or are adjacent to campus and are available to everyone as long as applicable federal, state and city laws are followed.
The new policy goes into effect immediately, Capone said.
The policy was drafted by a task force consisting of university students, faculty and staff.
UNCG sophomore Matt Hill Comer , who sat on the committee, said the policy is good for students.
“It has enough of a balance between guaranteeing students’ rights to free speech, yet giving the university the ability to protect other students’ rights to receive an education and not be hindered in that respect,” he said.
Allison Jaynes , one of the students charged with an honor court violation, said the new policy had good and bad points.
The policy took away the space restriction, which is good, she said. But she said the required notification ahead of time to campus police would hinder spontaneous protests.
“The time restriction doesn’t make any sense,” Jaynes, a UNCG senior, said. “They claim they need it for police security, but students assemble together in groups all over campus. There’s never any police involvement.”
Contact Lanita Withers at 373-7071 or lwithers@news-record.com