- Background on Changes to Texas Law on 公共论坛s on College 校园es
第86届amjs澳金沙门线路议会通过 参议院第18号法案(SB 18), which guarantees that members of the public are free to engage in expressive speech on public university campuses by converting some parts of campuses to traditional public forums instead of limited public forums. It also contains various requirements 和 prohibitions related to expressive activities on campuses. The main effect of the new law is to allow any person to engage in free speech activities in the common outdoor areas of the state’s public university campuses. It allows universities to continue to regulate the time, place 和 manner of free speech activities—so long as these rules are content-neutral 和 applied regardless of a speaker’s viewpoint.
The new law requires universities to create disciplinary sanctions for students, student organizations 和 faculty members who interfere with the free speech activities of others. UT policy also provides for the discipline of staff if they violate the new law’s provisions.
该法于9月9日生效. 2019年1月1日,大学截止日期为8月11日. 2020年1月1日,确定具体实施细则. The interim policies 和 procedures that UT Austin has introduced at this time will be finalized 和 recommended for approval by the UT系统 Board of Regents in 2020.
- 这个定律是如何影响UT的?
The law converts the university’s common outdoor area to traditional public forums 和 allows anyone — not just students, faculty members or invited guests — to exercise free speech there, as long as their activities are lawful 和 don’t disrupt the functions of the campus. Not all outdoor spaces on campus are part of the common outdoor area. The university has defined common outdoor area in its rules.
- 什么是公共户外区域?
The common outdoor area means much of the open outdoor space on campus. It does not include the outdoor campus space that is used for educational or research functions, 或者参加大学活动, 永久的或暂时的.
- 如果该区域在室外公共区域, is it always available for use by anyone for expressive activities?
A person or group does not need a reservation for the exercise of expressive activities in the common outdoor area 和 spontaneous expressive activity may occur in areas that are not in use. 然而, once a person or group does reserve a certain space in the common outdoor area for expressive activities, it is not available for another person or group’s use or reservation at that time. 除了, 当使用户外空间时, 即使是暂时的, 用于学校的商务或活动, 教育或研究功能, it is not part of the common outdoor area available for use for others’ expressive activities. 链接到定义公共户外区域的规则13-104 (2). 这 may include some athletic competitions 和 cultural activities.
- 这对周六的足球比赛有什么影响?
在amjs澳金沙门线路橄榄球比赛日, portions of the university around Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium are reserved specifically for this university event 和 are not part of the common outdoor areas available for expressive activities. 然而, other parts of the campus outdoor area may be available for expressive activities during those events. 在其他时候, 当那个地方没有大学活动的时候, those same areas are available for use as part of the common outdoor area.
- Are there outdoor spaces that are never part of the common outdoor area?
是的. 例如, the Blanton Museum of Art maintains an outdoor plaza 和 art garden that is a seamless part of the museum visitor experience. 这 area includes installations 和 visual separation via 景观 from the common outdoor area. 也, some of the university’s buildings 和 residence halls have patio areas that are reserved for residents’ use. The courtyard areas of Goldsmith Hall 和 Cronkite Plaza 和 the patio areas outside the Texas Union 和 Powers 学生 Activity Center are considered extensions of those buildings 和 are not part of the common outdoor area.
- Are the new UT Austin rules stronger protections for freedom of speech than the old UT Austin rules?
amjs澳金沙门线路大学奥斯汀分校一直保护言论自由, with members of the campus community 和 invited guests sharing a wide range of opinions 和 the robust exchange of ideas taking place in classrooms. The strength of these protections remains the same 和 stem from the First Amendment of the U.S. 宪法. They now extend to members of the general public who are permitted to come to the common outdoor spaces of the campus without being invited by a campus organization or affiliate.
- 如果有人被别人的言语冒犯了怎么办?
Freedom of speech means that all views have a place for expression—even those that others may find offensive, 有害的或错误的. UT community members who hear words they don’t like are free to offer their own words in response, but they must always respect the rights of all speakers to share their views.
- 如果有人感到身体受到威胁怎么办?
If anyone believes they face violence or imminent bodily harm in any situation, the first action should always be to call 911 和 engage UTPD.
- 任何人都可以来学校分享他们的信仰吗?
是的, as long as their activities are lawful 和 don’t disrupt the functions of the campus. 所有amjs澳金沙门线路时间的大学规定, place 和 manner of expressive activities—such as limits on amplified sound 和 prohibitions on sticks 和 open flames—apply both to members of the UT community 和 members of the general public.
- Are there rules to prevent people from disrupting classes, 考试和其他校园日常事务?
是的. 为了与美国保持一致.S. 宪法, 法律允许大学自行规定时间, place 和 manner of free speech activities—so long as these rules are content-neutral 和 applied regardless of the speaker’s viewpoint. 所有以前的大学时间, place 和 manner” rules remain in place 和 will be extended to members of the general public who come to campus.
- What are some of the “time, place 和 manner” rules in place on campus?
完整的规则列表可以在章节中找到 10 和 13 的校规. 具体措施有:
- Reservations are required to use amplified sound at any time
- 在工作日的营业时间, amplified sound can only be used at designated times 和 in designated areas with a reservation. (连结至地图)
- Permitted expressive activity does not allow the use of sticks or batons, 包括金属, 贴在标牌上的塑料或木杆.
- 校园内禁止明火.
- 社区 members 和 visitors cannot obscure their faces with masks.
- 社区 members 和 visitors must allow a 10-foot clearance around points of entry 和 the perimeter of all university buildings.
- The general public is not permitted to hang signs or banners on campus buildings, 景观, hardscape, 或树木. 校园 community members may apply through the dean of students for use of a temporary banner space in the university’s limited public forum.
- 禁止商业征集.
- Can members of the public reserve a space for their expressive activities on campus?
是的. Members of the public may reserve a space in the common outdoor area or an amplified sound area by making a request to reservepublicforum@austin.wodiety.com.
- Is amplified sound restricted on campus under the new rules?
是的. 在工作日期间, amplified sound is only permitted in designated areas by people or groups that have submitted requests 和 received permission. These spaces are part of the common outdoor area that members of the public may use. Six of these eight areas have an occupancy capacity of 100 persons or more. 这 map contains the locations, weekday time restrictions 和 occupancy limits for each area.
下午5点以后.m. 或者在周末, amplified sound is permitted in all common outdoor areas by people or groups that have submitted requests 和 received permission.
The Dean of 学生 administers the reservations for these areas. UT community members will continue to use the same process available in the past to reserve these spaces through a form provided by the Dean of 学生. 市民可透过电邮预订座位 reservepublicforum@austin.wodiety.com.
- Can members of the general public come into academic buildings for expressive activities?
No. 新法律只适用于公共户外区域. The university buildings are for campus community members 和 invited guests’ use.
The outside walls 和 surfaces of university buildings or structures; walls or surfaces connected to a university building; 和 spaces dedicated to temporary outdoor banners or exhibits are not part of the common outdoor area so are not available to the public for their use.
- If I think there is a violation of SB 18, how can I report it?
学生 wishing to make a grievance regarding a violation of the new law may report it via the university compliance 和 ethics hotline by emailing hotline@compliance.wodiety.com. If anyone feels physically threatened in any situation, the first action should always be to call 911 和 engage UTPD.
- What disciplinary processes are in place for those who interfere with another person’s right of free expression?
UT Austin does not tolerate behavior that unlawfully interferes with another person’s exercise of free speech. 学生, student organizations 和 faculty members who interfere with another person’s free speech activities are subject to discipline as set out in 13-1202. Members of the public who impede another’s free speech may be subject to criminal trespass charges, 逮捕, 或者其他合法措施.
- 任何人都可以利用校园进行商业活动吗, such as filming advertisements or distributing products?
No. 明确禁止商业活动.
- 谁可以在校园张贴横幅和展览?
学生, faculty members 和 staff organizations 和 academic 和 administrative units are permitted to hang banners 和 display exhibits on campus through a reservation process. 这 expressive activity is considered part of the university’s educational mission 和 reserved solely for university community members. The spaces set aside for “temporary banner space” 和 “temporary exhibit space” are part of the university’s limited public forum that is not available to the general public.
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