02.340 Freedom Expression by Non-University Sponsored Individuals or Groups

Chancellor

Revised March 11, 2025; Revised August 23, 2024; Revised August 24, 2020; Revised September 2019; Revised August 31, 2012; Revised and Reformatted August 22, 2008

UNC Code, Section 502

02.140 Facilities Use Policy; 02.360 Policy on Displays 

Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs and Office of General Counsel

Policy Details:

1. PURPOSE

   The University of North Carolina Wilmington is a community which embraces a plurality of ideas and perspectives. The university supports activities that encourage tolerance, understanding, respect and appreciation for different points of view. The U.S. Constitution supports freedom of expression as a fundamental right. This founding principle requires not our individual agreement with contrary opinions and positions, but our support and commitment to the protection of every individual's right to express those opinions and positions. In pursuit of this goal, the university aspires to protect its educational mission while also protecting the First Amendment right to free speech and expression. The granting of this privilege does not imply any university endorsement or support for the views expressed by the individual or group.

   The Policy on Free Speech and Free Expression Within the University of North Carolina System (1300.8) may be viewed at https://www.northcarolina.edu/apps/policy/index.php.

2. POLICY

   The following policy provides standards and guidelines necessary to maintain the orderly and essential operation of the university. Any individual or group who violates the policy may lose all privileges to assemble on campus in the future.

3. PROCEDURAL STANDARDS

   1. Non-university sponsored individuals and groups may be authorized to assemble and speak on campus between September 1^st and November 15^th, and between February 1^st and April 15^th. Additional dates may be requested and approved provided they do not conflict with the scheduling of campus events and if they do not impact student preparations for final exams.  Any dates during summer sessions may be available subject to business hours, and the scheduling of campus events.

   2. Any non-university sponsored individual or group (hereafter referred to as "speaker") seeking the opportunity to speak on campus must register with Campus Life prior to any activity. The preferred registration timeline is at least 48 hours prior to the event with a minimum of 24 hours required. If sponsored by a UNCW registered student organization, the organization will be held to Section IV-6 of the Code of Student Life, Regulations for Registered Student Organizations Hosting Speakers/Events.

   3. The speaker will be assigned to a specific area - either in front of Wagoner Dining Hall or in the outdoor Amphitheater - and granted permission to assemble for a duration of four hours (based upon the speaker's request and the availability of the space). On the day of the authorized event, the speaker may request permission from the Director of Conference Events & Reservations/designee to speak for up to two additional hours, for a total assembly time of no more than six hours on any particular day. Such requests will be granted, provided there is no other reservation for the space and there is no violation of the policy.

   4. The hours between 11:00am and 4:00pm, Monday through Friday, are available by reservation and limited to three days per week per speaker and may not exceed four hours per booking, unless granted an exception outlined above. No more than a total of 12 hours may be reserved per week by any one speaker during these hours.

   5. Beginning August 1^st, the university will accept reservations for between September 1^st and November 15^th , and beginning January 2^nd, the university will accept reservations for between February 1^st and April 15^th.

   6. The speaker will be required to have and submit upon request a copy of the registration approved by Campus Life.

   7. The speaker will not under any circumstances be permitted to sell items, solicit funds, or use any means of sound or image amplification, including but not limited to Bluetooth speakers, cellphones, loudspeakers, bullhorns, video projection equipment, digital screens, and megaphones.

   8. The speaker will be allowed to continue to assemble for the full duration of time approved on the registration unless:

      1. University activity or operations are disrupted, or the speaker is impeding the flow of traffic of passersby, or

      2. University property is being damaged, or

      3. Unlawful behavior on the part of the speaker is reported, or

      4. An imminent threat is posed to the physical safety of the speaker, a visitor, or a member of the University community, or

      5. The speaker incites a breach of peace.

   9. Speakers who wish to distribute written information must indicate so on their registration forms and may not distribute materials in a way that interferes with the normal flow of passersby or causes litter.

   10. If the UNCW Police Department and/or Campus Life determine that a registered speaker is in violation of this policy, the speaker will be asked to leave campus and may be escorted from campus by the University Police.

   11. As stated in the UNCW 02.140 Facilities Use Policy, "No permanent or semi-permanent structure may be constructed or placed without prior written authorization."
       
       
   12. Refer to UNCW 02.360 Policy on Displays for rules pertaining to the use of displays for Non-University Sponsored Individuals or Groups.
       
       
   13. Speaker must remove all display items, debris, and trash and return the Freedom of Expression area to its original state within 30 minutes of the end of the event.
       
       
   14. Mask use must adhere with North Carolina law.