This policy shall apply to any campus constituent or unaffiliated party on the şÚÁĎÍř’s property and in any College owned facility.

The College is resolute in its position that free inquiry and dialogue are the basis of higher education. The policy of the College on sign and poster regulation is intended to uphold these values. The policy also reflects the College’s right to place reasonable restrictions on the time, place, and manner of speech on campus. It is in this context that recognized student organizations, departments, and offices of the College, and members of the College community may display signs, banners, posters or other displays provided that they include the name of the sponsoring organization and the date of posting.

The affixing of signs, banners, posters or other displays to the exterior of College buildings may cause damage to the buildings or jeopardize public safety and therefore, is not permitted.

1. Writing, drawing, etching, painting, chalking, or otherwise marking the exterior of College buildings, is considered defacement of College property and therefore is not permitted.

2. Affixing signs, banners, posters, or other displays and writing, drawing, etching, painting, chalking, or otherwise marking College trees, benches, roadways, construction fences, and other features of the landscape are similarly not permitted. 

   Exception: Chalking of paved pedestrian campus pathways is permitted in the Sturges Quad and college residential villages except on walkways directly in front of building entrances.

   If the chalked message is intended to publicize a particular event, the sidewalk must be cleaned no later than five days after the event has occurred. Failure to remove the chalking in a timely manner will result in a charge to the organization sponsoring the publicized event for the removal of the chalk. If the chalked message was written by an individual student, and the identity of the writer is identified, failure to remove the chalking in a timely manner will result in a charge to the individual for the removal of the chalk.

   Chalking is not permitted directly in front of building entrances in order that the chalk dust does not get tracked into College buildings.

3. Displays on building interior surfaces must be confined to bulletin boards or similar areas provided for that purpose. Taping, nailing, tacking, etc., signs or other displays to walls, doors, glass, stairs, railings, balconies, or other building surfaces can cause damage or create a dangerous situation and, therefore, is not permitted. 
4. Displays may not be placed across or above roads or walks.
5. The posting of notices and flyers and other like materials in specific campus buildings may be subject to additional restrictions published by the specific building director (if appropriate).
6. All displays for an event must be removed not later than one week following the event by those responsible for the event or by those responsible for posting the notice.

Any unusual or special displays not covered by the above must be discussed with the Assistant Vice-President for Facilities and Planning.

Exceptions to this policy have been established over time for the cement retaining wall on the east side of the College Union (between the College Union and Schrader Hall) and for the tree in the Sturges Quad and are not covered by this policy. However, the College retains its right to regulate expression on the retaining wall and tree based on time, place, and manner.

Exceptions also include postings/notifications as necessary to alert or inform the community of official campus notices including but not limited to facility concerns, construction projects, or emergency situations as deemed necessary by the Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Planning, the Chief of University Police, or their designees.

Signs, banners, posters, etc. not displayed in accordance with the above will be removed by College personnel.

Rationale

The College has long had a policy of regulating the placement of signs and posters on campus, in order to address issues of safety and maintenance. The extension of the sign and poster regulations to College paved pedestrian pathways, with specific parameters related to safety and maintenance, is in keeping with the College’s long-standing position on this issue.

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The following constitutes the "time, place and manner" policy on the use of facilities owned by şÚÁĎÍř for peaceable speech and assembly. This policy shall apply to any Campus Constituents or Unaffiliated Party.

As an institution of higher education, the College respects and fully supports the free speech rights granted to individuals under both the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and New York State law. As a public entity, partially funded by New York State tax dollars, the College will provide a designated public forum to Campus Constituents and Unaffiliated Parties for the exercise of free speech rights. To comply with existing law, the College recognizes that it will dedicate its resources to this effort – including staff time for the management of the designated public forum, the costs or lost revenue associated with the use of space itself, and possible use of University Police and other administrative office staff – to provide for the safety of participants and orderly exercise of rights.

In drafting and adopting this policy, the College weighed its competing obligations and responsibilities to meet its educational mission; its obligations as a public entity to provide a designated public forum; its audit and control obligations in managing New York State property under SUNY jurisdiction; and, its obligations for the orderly and safe operation of its campus, while responsibly managing and allocating its scarce resources in pursuit of its educational mission for students. 

Assembly Time, Place, and Manner Conditions for Public Areas on Campus Grounds 

Free speech and peaceful assembly are fundamental to the purpose of a college as a center for open inquiry in the search for knowledge and insight. Geneseo is strongly committed to the protection of these rights. However, these rights bring with them a concurrent obligation to maintain a campus atmosphere conducive to scholarly pursuits, residential living, and respect for the rights of all individuals.

As stated in the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustee’s :

No student, faculty member or other staff member or authorized visitor shall be subject to any limitation or penalty for expressing his or her views or for assembling with others for such purpose; peaceful picketing and other orderly demonstrations in public areas of campus grounds and buildings are not subject to interference provided there are no violations of the rules included in this policy and the aforementioned Rules for the Maintenance of Public Order. 

Assemblies, demonstrations, and similar expressions of First Amendment rights may not infringe on the rights of others or disrupt essential operations of the College. 

General Procedures for Assemblies

• The use of amplification equipment will not be permitted.
• The construction of shelters and other temporary structures or camping on campus grounds is prohibited.
• Dangerous instruments as defined by NYS Penal Law, including but not limited to poles, flag poles, bats and other similar athletic items, clubs, sticks (including sticks used to hold signs) are not permitted.
• Possession and/or ignition of an open flame of any type, including, but not limited to, torches are not permitted.
• 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 is not permitted.
• Occupation of a College building after it is normally closed is not permitted.
• Obstruction of any entry or exit of a campus building and roadways running through or adjoining the College’s campus grounds is not permitted.
• All individuals participating in protests and demonstrations are required to provide a form of University issued or government issued identification upon request from a College official.
• The use of campus grounds does not imply the College’s endorsement of any organization or activity.
• The College will not interfere with Peaceful Picketing or Other Orderly Demonstrations on campus grounds provided that the SUNY Board of Trustees' Rules for Maintenance of Public Order are upheld at all times. 

Application for Planned Assemblies and Demonstrations in Public Areas by Unaffiliated Party(s)

Unaffiliated Party(s) interested in using the campus grounds for assembly, picketing, or demonstrations are required to inform the college of their intentions and obtain authorization through the Office of the Vice President for Student and Campus Life. Two business day minimum advance notice is required. Applicants to utilize campus grounds are required to submit the Application for Use of the Designated Public Forum or the following information to the Office of Campus Scheduling and Special Events: 

• their name(s);
• the name of their organization;
• the location sought;
• the date and time of the planned demonstration;
• the number of persons expected to participate; and
• the manner of demonstration.

Once authorization is given by the Vice President for Student and Campus Life, the applicant’s information will be forwarded to the Office of Campus Scheduling and Special Events. Applicants shall review the College’s Facilities Use policy and procedures.

Authorization to assemble or demonstrate on campus grounds will be granted provided that:

• the applicant’s status with the campus is not “persona non grata,” or there is not a court order prohibiting the applicant’s presence on campus;
• the proposed time, place, or manner of assembly or demonstration is not during an exclusion period (as defined above) or would not prevent, disrupt, or unreasonably interfere with the regular academic and institutional activities or other essential operations of the College;
• the proposed assembly time is requested for a four-hour time block or less between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. during the academic year, and between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. during the summer;
• the applicants agree to comply with any and all federal, state, local, and campus mandates;
• the proposed assembly or demonstration would not unreasonably obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
• the proposed assembly or demonstration would not violate the SUNY Board of Trustees’ Rules for Maintenance of Public Order.

The College will evaluate the location requested for each assembly or demonstration individually based on availability and the need to conduct its regular academic and institutional activities. If the requested location is deemed as inappropriate based on the needs of the college, a reasonably appropriate alternative location will be authorized by the college.

All assembly or demonstration requests will be acted on in a manner reflecting viewpoint neutrality.

If, in the reasonable judgment of College officials, an activity is not consistent with the characteristics previously articulated by the users when they notified the College or the activity has been misrepresented, authorization to use campus grounds will be withdrawn and the activity in progress will be halted.

The College reserves the right to terminate any use of college property in the event that either the speaker or a participant or participant engages in conduct that violates the SUNY Board of Trustees Rules for Maintenance of Public Order.

Approved by College Council on October 4, 2024

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