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Support/Policies: Freedom of Speech and Peaceable Assembly Policy

As a student at Chesapeake College, you have many resources available to help you succeed while you are here. Below are a few links to student support services and more specific course policy information.

Freedom of Speech and Peaceable Assembly Policy

Chesapeake College, in recognition of the rights to freedom of speech and peaceable assembly as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and as fundamental to the democratic process, supports the rights of individuals and groups to assemble, demonstrate and express their views for or against actions and opinions.

The college also recognizes a concurrent obligation to maintain and provide a safe and secure campus environment conducive to college operations, activities, decorum and respect for all.

Individuals and groups that wish to exercise their rights of free speech and peaceable assembly on premises owned and/or operated by the college shall do so in accordance with college guidelines in order to ensure (a) that their ability to exercise these rights is recognized and preserved and (b) that their exercise of such rights does not disrupt, obstruct, impede or otherwise interfere in any manner with college operations, activities, and/or the safety and rights of all members of the college community.

GUIDELINES for all demonstrations, rallies, leafletting and/or equivalent activity:

  • Persons may not threaten or accost passers-by, or otherwise attempt to actively engage, approach or solicit employees, students, or campus visitors who are not interested
  • Persons may not block or otherwise interfere with the free flow of vehicular, bicycle or pedestrian traffic. The right of way on streets and sidewalks must be maintained.
  • Persons may not block or otherwise interfere with ingress and egress into and out of campus buildings.
  • Persons shall not obstruct, disrupt, interrupt or attempt to force the cancellation of any event or activity sponsored by the College or by any users authorized to use College facilities.  Persons shall not commit any act likely to create imminent safety or health hazards.
  • Persons shall not engage in harassing, physically abusive, threatening or intimidating conduct toward any person.
  • Persons shall comply with the directions of any College official acting in the performance of his or her duty.
  • Classes or other scheduled activities shall not be disrupted. 
  • Use of public address systems and amplified sound will not be permitted without prior approval from the Director of Public Safety.
  • To prohibit any expressive activities that seek to incite imminent violence or constitute harassment, threats, defamation or obscenities included but not limited to the below:
  • Conduct speech that includes words that by their very nature tend to incite an immediate breach of the peace.
  • Engage in any speech or action that is not allowed by law.  
  • Engage in any speech that is likely to incite or produce immediate lawless action or that is, under current legal standards, either defamatory, obscene or indecent.
  • Incite others to commit any of the acts prohibited.
  • Enter any college building or structure without prior permission from a College official to do so, with or without signs, sign supports, poles or other implements.
  • Where an invited speaker is the object of protest, persons may demonstrate and/or leaflet outside the building where the speech is taking place. Persons who wish to enter the building must do so as members of the audience and must give the speaker a respectful hearing. Failure to grant the speaker a respectful hearing may result in the offending persons being asked to leave. Signs, placards or similar paraphernalia associated with a demonstration will not be carried into the building.
  • The safety and well-being of members of the campus community collectively and individually must be protected at all times. The College maintains the right to define the time, place and manner in which activities occur on campus.
  • Student organizations sponsoring or organizing demonstrations, rallies, leafletting or equivalent activities will be held responsible for compliance with this policy. Student organization sponsorship in no way relieves participating individuals of responsibility for their conduct. Each individual participating in a demonstration or equivalent activities, whether sponsored or not, is accountable for compliance with the provisions of this policy as well as the Code of Student Conduct. Complaints of violation of this policy may be grounds for disciplinary action against both individuals and/or the sponsoring or participating student organizations and their officers.
  • To ensure that individuals and groups who are not affiliated with the College understand the College’s policies and procedures concerning expressive activities on campus, all unaffiliated individuals or groups must first contact the Event team at https://www.chesapeake.edu/conference-and-event-services at least 72 hours before engaging in any expressive activities on College property.