Towson University Policies: 06-04.11- Policy on Time, Place, and Manner for Expressive Activities

Relevant Excerpt

2. Students and/or faculty or staff planning an Expressive Activity must contact via email the following offices, as applicable, at least 3 business days in advance of any planned Expressive Activity: the Office of Campus Life (Students and Student groups); the Office of the Provost (faculty); and the Office of the Vice President for Operations (staff). ...

a. Individual and small group exception. Expressive Activities involving ten (10) or fewer University Affiliates may occur in On-Campus Community Accessible Areas without providing advance contact to the offices identified in Section V.B.2., provided these activities do not otherwise violate this Policy, including, but not limited to, not interfering with any functions for which space has been reserved in advance or unreasonably disrupting University Operations. Should an Expressive Activity under this section grow to exceed more than ten (10) individuals, the University Affiliates will be required to move their Expressive Activity to one of the Designated Demonstration Areas. Accordingly, the University encourages all persons planning Expressive Activity, regardless of size, to contact the offices identified in Section V.B.2 to discuss these policy guidelines and how they might apply to the planned event.

b. Spontaneous demonstration exception. Occasionally, events occur that lead to immediate public outcry, and this policy is not designed to limit students’ rights to protest such events. Spontaneous demonstrations or protests may be held by University Affiliates in On-Campus Community Areas without advanced notice provided these activities do not otherwise violate this Policy. It is a violation of this policy to circumvent this policy by claiming a planned event is spontaneous. In deciding whether a demonstration is spontaneous or planned, the University may consider any relevant evidence, including (a) whether signs or placards used at the demonstration were commercially produced, (b) whether participants used amplification equipment, (c) whether security was alerted, or media contacted, substantially in advance of the demonstration, or (d) whether other circumstances demonstrate advance planning by one or more individuals or organizations.