- Home
- Mission
- Departments
- Resources
- Policies
Policies
Free Speech and Public Assembly Policy Information
What is Free Speech?
The University of North Texas recognizes that freedom of expression and public assembly are fundamental rights of all persons and are essential components of the educational process. For more information about the specific policies regarding free speech and public assembly, please refer to Volume 3, Chapter 18 of the Academic and Student policies located on the UNT policy website at www.unt.edu/policy.
Who can reserve a space for free speech?
Students, registered student organizations, and employees may engage in expressive activity on campus grounds without the need for prior reservation or registration except when the expressive activity includes:
- A designated area
- Displays, exhibits, or signs that require securing or large/heavy objects
- Sound amplification
- Attendance greater than 25 people
- A march or parade
- A sponsored guest
Helpful Definitions
- Expressive Activity — The verbal or symbolic expression of an idea, thought, or opinion.
- Amplified Sound — Sound that is increased or enhanced by any electric, electronic, or mechanical means. Amplified sound may not exceed 92 decibels on the A scale from 50 feet away.
- Campus Grounds — All outdoor areas owned, leased or controlled by UNT that are common and accessible to all students and employees.
- Designated Areas — Outdoor areas of property owned, leased or controlled by UNT that may be reserved for expressive activity.
- Sponsored Guest — Any person who is not a student or employee of UNT, or any organization whose membership includes persons who are not students or employees of UNT or that is not a social organization of UNT.
How and when should space be reserved for free speech?
A request to reserve a designated area for expressive activities, or to engage in amplified speech in a designated area, must be submitted to the Office of the Dean of Students no fewer than eight (8) business days before the proposed activity. Only singular reservations will be reviewed. Requests for periodic or recurring use will not be considered.
Download: Designated Areas and Amplified Sound Request Form pdf
Reservation criteria:
- Reservations for designated areas are for Monday–Friday.
- Requests must be properly submitted 8 business days prior to the date of the event.
- Reservations are specifically encouraged where an expressive activity is promoted in advance and may reasonably be anticipated to draw a crowd of 25 or more people.
- Advance registration is required before amplified sound may be used.
- Reservations may be made on a first-come, first-served basis and are subject to the rules set out in the policy.
- Expressive activities that require securing or heavy objects on campus grounds must be reserved in advance and may require approval/assistance from University Facilities.
- Marches and parades must be reserved 8 days in advance for safety review.
- Displays, exhibits, or signs may not exceed 25 feet in length or width or 15 feet in height.
- Guests sponsored by registered student organizations are required to reserve space 8 days in advance.
- In order to ensure reasonable access to designated areas, students, employees, and sponsoring organizations may reserve these locations up to/no more than 15 weekdays each semester and may not reserve the same location and time for 5 consecutive weekdays in a semester.
Which designated areas may be reserved for expressive activities?
- Area 1: Grassy area northeast of Information Science Building* (capacity: 200 people)
- Area 2: Grassy area southwest of the Business Building* (capacity: 75-100 people)
- Area 3: Grassy area northeast of the University Union (capacity: 75 people)
- Area 4: Grassy area southeast of the University Union (capacity: 125 people)
- Area 5: Grassy area south of the Library Mall near Highland by the Willis Library (capacity: 125 people)
- Area 6: Grassy area north of Library Mall to Onstead Plaza and campus grounds just north of Willis Library* (capacity: 1000 people)
- Area 7: Grassy area just west of the southwest entrance of the Information Science Building* (capacity: 50-75 people)
- Area 8: Grassy area just southwest of the General Academic Building* (capacity: 50 people)
- Area 1: Campus grounds between UNT Discovery Park main stop and building* (capacity: 75-100 people)
- Area 2: Campus grounds between UNT Discovery Park east stop and building* (capacity: 50 people)
Victory Hall/Mean Green Campus pdf
- Area 1: Campus grounds corridor from Victory Hall/UNT Shuttle Eagle Point stop to outside CHAMPS dining hall entrance (capacity: 50 people)
Amplified sound may be used from 8:00 AM-10:00 PM in these areas, except where noted.
* Amplified sound may be used from 11:30 AM-1:00 PM and from 5:00-10:00 PM only.
How can I register a parade, march, or rally?
All organized parades, marches or rallies held for expressive activity purposes, including silent protest, that will cross thoroughfares or could stop or slow traffic, must be registered with the Dean of Students no fewer than eight (8) days in advance of the planned event.
Routes for parades, rallies and marches must be designed to avoid substantial disruption of the orderly movement of traffic or emergency services.
Routes may be designed to cross over streets and parking lots, but may not be designed to occur on University streets.
Planned routes that will occur on streets under the authority of the City of Denton are subject to municipal permit requirements and such permits must be secured in accordance with the requirements of the City of Denton.
What if my activity includes objects that need to be secured to the ground?
Reservation of campus grounds for expressive activity that requires securing exhibits or displays or that could damage campus grounds or underground utilities/systems must be made in advance of the activity and may require approval/assistance from the UNT Facilities department. Outdoor exhibits may not be staked in areas the Facilities department determines is unable to secure the exhibit or in areas where utilities or ground irrigation systems may be damaged.
How can I appeal a request that was denied?
All decisions made by the Dean of Students related to use of campus grounds for expressive activity are subject to review by the Associate Vice President of Student Development. All appeals must be in writing and must include the basis for the disagreement with the decision of the Dean of Students and any other information relevant to the appeal. The appeal must be submitted electronically to the Associate Vice President for Student Development. The Associate Vice President of Student Development will issue a written decision on the appeal within 2 business days after the appeal was submitted. The decision of the Associate Vice President for Student Development is final.
Decisions made by the University police to relocate an expressive activity in accordance with the Free Speech Policy may not be appealed.
Can my activity be relocated?
Expressive activities on campus may be required to relocate to other areas under the following circumstances:
- Noise generated by the activity disrupts an academic or administrative program or substantially interferes with resident housing life and activities. Amplified sound may not exceed 92 decibels on the "A" scale from 50 feet away.
- Location does not safely accommodate the number of participants.
- Number of individuals participating in or attending the activity creates unsafe conditions for vehicular traffic or parking or pedestrian traffic blocks ingress or egress to buildings or university activities.
- Space has been reserved for an official university or academic activity.
- Activity interferes with a previously planned university activity.
- Activity creates a health or welfare hazard, such as interfering with fire, police or emergency services.
The decision to relocate will be made by the Office of the Dean of Students unless circumstances require immediate action by another University official. Students or organizations involved in an expressive activity may be held accountable for any violations of University policies, including the Code of Student Conduct.
What if my activity involves a sponsored guest?
Reservation requests for sponsored guests must be submitted 8 days in advance. Sponsoring organizations are responsible for ensuring that sponsored guests read and understand all obligations set out in this and all other applicable University policies. Members of the University community may be held individually responsible and sponsoring organizations may be held collectively responsible for any violations of University policies, including the Code of Student Conduct and personnel policies, as applicable. Sponsoring guests who do not comply with this or other applicable University policies automatically forfeit their reservations and must immediately vacate University property.