Freedom of Expression

The college requires three business days’ written notice from groups who want to use the SPSCC campus for an activity. Notice must include the following information:

1. The name, address, and telephone number of a contact person for the sponsoring organization; and
2. The date, time, and requested location of the activity; and
3. The nature and purpose of the activity; and
4. The type of sound amplification devices to be used in connection with the activity, if any; and
5. The estimated number of people expected to participate in the activity.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

Individuals and groups not affiliated with the college may engage in expressive activities between the hours of 7 a.m. - 10 p.m., and for no more than 8 total hours.

People who choose to engage in expressive activities outside the hours and for longer than the time listed may be subject to trespass per the college's loitering policy.  

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

Individuals and groups not affiliated with the college must confine expressive activities in a location the college has designated as a limited public forum area.

At SPSCC, those locations include:

1. The outside area between buildings 31 and 32.
2. The outside area between buildings 27, 28, and 22, excluding the covered walkway.

Source: Facilities Use for Non-College Groups WAC

When using college facilities or athletic fields, an individual or organization may be required to post a bond and/or obtain insurance to protect the college against cost or other liability in accordance with the college's facility use rule.

When the college grants permission to a college group or noncollege group to use its facilities it is with the express understanding and condition that the individual or organization assumes full responsibility for any loss or damage.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 28B.50 RCW and RCW 42.56.040. WSR 12-10-007, § 132X-30-080, filed 4/19/12, effective 5/20/12.]

Source: Posting of a Bond WAC 

Signs shall be no larger than three feet by five feet and no individual may carry more than one sign.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC

Noncollege groups may distribute materials only at the site designated for noncollege groups.

Information may be distributed as long as it is not obscene or libelous or does not advocate or incite imminent unlawful conduct. The sponsoring organization is encouraged, but not required, to include its name and address on the distributed information.

Source: Distribution of Materials WAC

All areas impacted by expressive activities will be cleaned up and left in their original condition and may be subject to inspection by a representative of the college after the event. Reasonable charges may be assessed against the sponsoring organization or individual for the costs of extraordinary cleanup or for the repair of damaged property.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

Camping on college property is expressly prohibited by the Use of College Facilities Policy. Camping is defined to include sleeping, cooking, storing personal belongings, personal habitation, or the erection of tents or other shelters or structures used for the purposes of personal habitation.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC

Sound amplification must not disrupt or disturb the normal use of classrooms, offices or laboratories or any previously scheduled college event or activity. The college will determine the time, place, and manner of sound amplification devices.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC

All fire, safety, sanitation, or special regulations specified for the event will be obeyed in accordance with applicable regulations such as the South Puget Sound Community College security and fire safety report. The college will not allow utility connections, water hookups, or sanitation systems for purposes of expressive activities conducted pursuant to this policy.

The event must not block access to stairways, ramps, pathways, or building entrances.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

The event must not interfere with educational activities inside or outside any college building or otherwise prevent the college from fulfilling its mission and achieving its primary purpose of providing an education to its students. The event must not materially infringe on the rights and privileges of college students, employees or invitees to the college.

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

College premises will not be used for commercial sales, solicitations, advertising, or promotional activities, unless:

1. Such activities serve educational purposes of the college; and
2. Such activities are under the sponsorship of a college department or office, college administration, or a constitutionally recognized student club. 

Source: Use of College Facilities WAC 

Noncollege groups who violate the rules posted above will be advised of the specific nature of the violation and, if they persist in the violation, will be requested by the college president or designee to leave the college premises.

Such a request will be deemed to withdraw the license or privilege to enter onto or remain upon any portion of the college premises of the person or group of persons requested to leave, and subject such individuals to arrest under the provisions of chapter 9A.52 RCW or municipal ordinance.

Remaining on or reentering campus premises after one's license or privilege to be on college premises has been revoked will constitute trespass, and such individuals will be subject to arrest for criminal trespass.

Source: Use of College Facilities Policy

The Board recognizes the right and responsibility of the academic employee to insist that students be free to learn and academic employees free to teach broad areas of knowledge, including those that may be considered controversial. Academic freedom implies not only freedom of discussion in the classroom, but also the absence of unusual restriction upon the academic employee method of instruction and testing, provided that they are consistent with the academic employee's assignment. Every academic employee is presumed competent and responsible until specific evidence is brought forward to the contrary. No suspicion concerning either the judgment or the goodwill of the academic employee should find any place in our administrative regulations or customary procedures. The rights guaranteed to all citizens under the Constitution of the United States of America in regard to freedom of speech shall not otherwise be limited or diminished by reason of a person's employment by the College.

Students have the right to free speech, which includes the right to speak and write about current events and topics that some fellow students, SPSCC employees, and member of the public may find distressing or offensive.

The right to free speech may not be construed a right to harass, bully, or intimidate other people. Employees have the right to a working environment, and students have the right to a learning environment, free of harassment, violence, and intimidation. SPSCC strives to be a safe campus at all times.

Students and employees who engage in conduct or communication motivated by hatred or prejudice that demeans, degrades, or harasses an individual or group based upon race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, or veteran status may be referred through the Bias Incident Reporting Team (BIRT) process and subject to sanctions.

In the case of students, the sanctions process will be governed by Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

In the case of employees, the sanctions process will be governed by SPSCC's Nondiscrimination and Discrimination Complaints/Grievance Policy.

If students or employees believe they have been subject to verbal or physical identity-based harassment, intimidation, or violence, they may report the incident through the Bias Incident Reporting Form. 

SPSCC students and employees have the right to organize events, including peaceful protests, on campus grounds and in campus facilities. While the college requests that SPSCC students and employees provide 24 hours of notice before a protest, the Use of College Facilities WAC specifically states that unscheduled events by college groups may be permitted so long as the event does not interfere with any other function of the college.